varus

[From Latin vārus, crooked.]

Abnormal curving of a part of the body inwards, from the proximal end (nearest the trunk) to the distal end (farthest from the centre of the trunk). Knock-knees is caused by a varus of the thigh bone (femoral varus). It results in stress being placed on the outside of the hips and the inside of the knees, increasing the likelihood of injury. Varus is relieved by strengthening the hip muscles and the quads at the front of the thigh.

Inward curvature of a body segment from its proximal to its distal end. In varus conditions, extra tensile stress is placed on the lateral side of the segment's proximal articulation and on the medial side of its distal articulation. Compare valgus. See also femoral vacus, forefoot vatus, rearfoot varus, tibial varus.

[L.] bent inward; denoting a deformity in which the angulation of the part is toward the midline of the body, as in coxa vara, genu varum.

• v. stress test — adduction of the tibia while the femur is in a fixed position tests the integrity of the lateral collateral ligaments of the stifle.