Straightening his future: one boy’s seven-year journey to straight legs

For seven years, Ivan Daku's knock knees kept him from experiencing a regular childhood.

Born in the West-Central African nation of Cameroon, Ivan's mom, Mokia Petronila, recalled that within one year of his birth, it was noticeable that his legs were not straight. What followed were years of incorrect diagnosis, trial-and-error treatments, and failed procedures.

By the time Petronila came across Scott Nelson, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon and limb deformity specialist at Loma Linda University Health, she was beyond discouraged and nearly out of hope for her son.

"Dr. Nelson was the first person who told me everything would be okay," she said. "He told us he did surgeries all over the world to fix the exact problem Ivan had with his legs. I was so relieved to finally have hope."

Treatments before the diagnosis

Before moving to California and meeting with Nelson, Ivan endured several treatments while still living in Africa.

Initially told he had a 'bone problem,' his parents took him from hospital to hospital, trying everything the doctors recommended, but all the solutions, including calcium, iron leg braces, and leg casts, were temporary fixes.

"When they put the braces on, his legs looked straight, but as soon as they came off, his legs went back to their same form," Petronila said.

Ivan's condition severely impacted his childhood experience, especially at school and with other children. Teachers often discouraged him from playing out of fear that he would hurt himself, and kids didn't want to play with him because of his legs.

Life-changing encounter

In late 2024, Ivan's family moved to Corona, California, hopeful that the United States medical system could help. However, their first encounter with a doctor left them hopeless once again, as they were told Ivan's condition was too severe for successful treatment.

Though frustrated, Ivan's parents did not give up. They were eventually referred to Loma Linda University Health, where they met Nelson.

"For the first time, someone looked at Ivan and said, 'This is something we can fix.' After everything we had been through, hearing that was a huge relief," Petronila recalled.

Not only did Nelson assure them that he could fix Ivan's legs, but for the first time in seven years, they had an official diagnosis: Ollier's disease, a condition marked by the growth of multiple benign cartilage tumors inside the bones. Though noncancerous, these tumors can significantly disrupt normal bone development.

In Ivan's case, they caused severe deformities in both his legs, making it difficult to walk, run, or participate in everyday life.

Setting his legs straight

Within a year of arriving in the United States, Ivan underwent a complex corrective procedure designed to straighten his legs and restore function.

"Since Ivan's bones were extremely small and fragile, the best way to treat deformities like his is with external fixators," Nelson explained. "These devices attach to the outside of the limbs and allow for precise, controlled correction of the deformities."

For the femurs, Nelson and his team made small incisions in the bone and repositioned them into the desired position. For the tibias, the approach was slightly different due to the complexity of the surrounding structures. There was a risk of stretching important nerves and the potential for compartment syndrome, a condition in which swelling can compromise blood flow to the leg.

To address this safely, Nelson performed a gradual correction to avoid shortening and provide a precise correction.

"After placing an external fixator, we made a small crack in the bones and used a computer-guided system to slowly adjust the alignment over time. The device is fine-tuned daily, gently guiding the bones into the correct position," Nelson said.

If the alignment is not perfect at the end of the one-to-two-month process, further adjustments can be made to achieve the desired result.

Wheelchair to walking

After his release from the hospital, Ivan spent the first few months of recovery in a wheelchair. While his healing was painful and uncomfortable at first, Ivan got used to being in the wheelchair and even started enjoying being pushed around and going fast.

After about six weeks, he began doing physical therapy and was encouraged to start walking. By the third month, Ivan was able to return to school and experience freedom for the first time.

"Now he runs and plays without his knees touching," his mom said. "When he comes home from school, he's full of energy. Before, he would complain that his legs hurt."

Hopeless to healed

Before surgery, Ivan struggled to keep up with other children.

The way his knees knocked together not only made walking and running difficult, but like many children with visible differences, he faced social isolation. Treatment from Nelson and his team of orthopaedic surgeons provided Ivan with a life-changing outcome for a child who once struggled with the simplest movements.

"When several doctors told us they didn't know what to do, I cried," Petronila said. "But meeting Dr. Nelson gave us hope again. Now, Ivan is free from pain."