With a shortened tibia, how does the knee appear in comparison to the uninvolved side?

• A. Higher
• B. Lower
• C. Level
• D. Extended

Answer: (B)

When a tibia is shortened, the overall alignment of the leg is affected, particularly how the knee aligns with respect to the uninvolved side. A shortened segment, like the tibia, causes the knee joint on that side to be positioned lower than the knee on the opposite side. This displacement happens because the femur, which remains unchanged in length, maintains its position, while the shorter tibia effectively draws the knee joint downwards. As a result, in the physical assessment of lower extremities, one can observe that the knee on the side with the shortened tibia appears lower in height than the knee on the unaffected side. This understanding is critical for assessing limb length discrepancies and can inform treatment options or interventions that might be necessary to address functional mobility or postural alignment.