Knee Osteotomy
What is a knee osteotomy?
A knee osteotomy is an operation that surgeons use to treat the pain and instability that can occur when there is damage or in part of the knee joint. Doctors may recommend an osteotomy instead of a knee replacement when only one area of the knee has damage.
During this knee surgery, a surgeon repositions the bones in the (shin bone) or (thigh bone) to realign the knee. This new positioning shifts your body weight from the damaged part of your knee to a healthy part.
A knee osteotomy can help slow deterioration of cartilage in the knee and may delay your need for knee replacement surgery for many years. Osteotomy of the knee has been used for decades to improve pain and function.
Why is a knee osteotomy done?
All joints, including the knees, have cushioning tissue called cartilage where bones meet. Some people develop when cartilage wears away in a joint, which can cause the tibia and femur to rub uncomfortably. This pressure can cause pain and stiffness in your knee.
Doctors perform knee osteotomy to shift pressure from the damaged part of the knee to an area with healthy cartilage and cushioning. This shift can reduce pain and improve mobility in the knee. A doctor may also use a knee osteotomy to repair a broken knee that did not heal properly.
What are the types of knee osteotomy?
The two main types of osteotomy are opening wedge and closing wedge.
During a closing wedge osteotomy knee surgery, the surgeon cuts a wedge of bone from the leg and brings the sides of the opening together to close the space.
In some cases, the surgeon opens up a section of bone, rather than closing the bone. This procedure is called an opening wedge osteotomy. Sometimes a graft is used to hold the space between the ends of the osteotomy gap
What should I expect from a knee osteotomy?
You’ll have knee osteotomy under Your doctor will recommend the best anesthesia option for you, including:
- General anesthesia: Your doctor gives you medicine that puts you to sleep during the surgery.
- Spinal anesthesia: You receive an injection in your back that numbs your body from the waist down.
Your doctor has several options to hold the osteotomy in place during healing. This includes metal screws and a plate or a biocomposite material to hold the realigned bone in place while it heals. Knee osteotomy surgery usually takes one to two hours.
After a knee osteotomy, your doctor will closely monitor you while you recover from the anesthesia. Most people who have a knee osteotomy leave the hospital one to two days after surgery. Some patients leave the same day of surgery. While healing from the surgery, you will likely need to use or a for several weeks to avoid putting too much weight on the knee while it heals.