IMPACTS OF COXA VALGA AND COXA VARA ON THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW.

Abstract

Introduction: The femoral neck is the region of the femur that separates the head from the body, which has its projection towards the body or diaphysis forming an angle of around 125°, called the angle of inclination, or colodiaphyseal angle. However, the distance between the body of the femur and the neck, with a distance from the midline which is called "coxa valga", is an angle greater than 135°. On the other hand, when this deformation occurs with a deviation that approaches the midline, it is called "coxa vara", an angle of less than 120° (IYIDOBI, 2020).  Both are pathologies that can generate consequences that lead to dysfunction of the locomotor system that impairs the quality of life of sufferers. The morphofunctional damage can range from early changes, such as altered gait, disproportion of the lower limbs and limited range of movement, to long-term comorbidities such as fractures, chronic pain and osteoarthritis (HAMANI, 2018). It is therefore important to understand this issue, demonstrating the impacts that these morphological conditions can have on individuals with these deformities. Objective: Understand the consequences of coxa valga and coxa vara for the locomotor system. Methodology: This study is an integrative literature review, and the research was obtained through the Public/Publisher MEDLINE (PubMed) database and the Virtual Health Library (VHL). The descriptors found in the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) were ("Coxa Valga" OR "Coxa Vara"), which were selected based on previous publications on the object of study. Filters applied: Free full text, English, Spanish, Portuguese, 2018-2022. With the search strategy, a pre-selection was made based on the title and abstract, exclusion of duplicate articles, and then the articles that complied with the inclusion criteria of this review were evaluated in full. This resulted in a sample of 11 studies. Results: Coxa valga results in shortening of the adductors and stretching of the abductors, leading to a weakening of the adductor muscles in relation to the abductors. This is associated with a higher risk of proximal femur fractures, knee arthritis and varus genus (ZHANG, 2021). In coxa vara, there is a shortening of the abductor muscles, favoring weakness of the gluteal muscles, causing greater instability of the hip joint. It is therefore associated with a risk of osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, Paget's disease, osteomyelitis and trochanteric bursitis (SHARMA, 2018). In coxa vara there are frequent complaints of chronic hip pain, disproportion in the length of the lower limbs, gluteal weakness, lameness and limitation of hip abduction movement, symptoms and signs that significantly affect the quality of life of sufferers of this condition (TIAN, 2021). Conclusion: These include increased risk of femoral neck and head fractures, risk of degenerative processes such as hip and knee osteoarthritis, as well as functional gait alterations, muscle weakness, geno varus and geno valgus.