ABSTRACT
Juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by arthritis in one or more joints lasting more than 12 consecutive weeks in a child under the age of 16. Other diseases must have been excluded. Chronic inflammation of joints results in muscle weakness and osteoporosis. Joint hyperaemia may cause epiphyseal overgrowth (e.g. coxa magna). Partial involvement of the epiphysis may cause asymmetrical overgrowth and deformity (e.g. genu valgum). Either may cause limb length inequality.
