A 7-year-old young boy, had fracture of lateral condyle of femur. He developed malunion as the fracture was not reduced anatomically. Malunion will produce:
## **Core Concept**
The lateral condyle of the femur is a part of the distal femur that contributes to the knee joint. Malunion of a fracture in this area can lead to alterations in the normal anatomy and function of the knee. The question tests understanding of the consequences of malunion in this specific fracture.
## **Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Malunion of a fracture of the lateral condyle of the femur can lead to **cubitus varus** (or **gunstock deformity**), but in the context of the femur and the specific phrasing of the question, it seems there might be confusion with the typical fracture site for such a deformity (usually the lateral condyle of the humerus). However, considering fractures around the knee, malunion could potentially lead to issues like **genu varum** (bow-leggedness) if the medial aspect of the femur or tibia is affected, or **genu valgum** (knock-knees) if the lateral aspect is affected. The correct answer seems to relate to the expected outcome of such a malunion.
## **Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
- **Option A:** This option is incorrect because, without the specific details of what "A" represents, we can't directly assess its accuracy, but we know the correct answer is related to a specific deformity.
- **Option B:** Similarly, without specifics, we can't directly refute, but the focus is on why "D" is correct.
- **Option C:** This is incorrect because it is not the correct answer based on the information provided.
## **Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key point to remember is that malunion of fractures around the knee can lead to significant long-term issues, including altered gait, pain, and degenerative joint disease. Specifically, for the lateral condyle fracture of the humerus (which might be confused here), a common complication of malunion is **cubitus varus**.
## **Correct Answer:** .