I am extremely pleased with the result of my osteotomy. I feel I have my life back and I do not have any of the limitations that I had before.
Osteotomy is a modern surgical operation, designed to realign the knee joint and thus reduce pain and improve mobility. It is a valuable procedure in the patient who has experienced damage to the joint cartilage of the knee, but only on the one side, and where a realignment may shift the weight-bearing load to the undamaged side and offer considerable relief. It is particularly relevant if you are perhaps considering a knee replacement but feel that you are still too young and active.
First, we do a CT scan to check the positions of the bones that support your knee. Then, the computer calculates precisely any realignment needed and, throughout the operation itself, guides the surgeon in the placing of metal pins and plates above and below the knee joint. These plates provide such effective support that most patients can put their full weight on to their knees within 24 hours of the operation.
- Reduced knee pain without removing the natural knee joint.
- Improved movement and function after surgery, with a wider range of movement possible compared to after a knee joint replacement.
- Fast recovery – patients are mobile immediately and rehabilitation takes 6-12 weeks. Apart from those with highly active or manual jobs, patients usually return to work after 6 weeks.
- An osteotomy can delay the need for a knee replacement, but does not rule this option out. If the arthritis continues to worsen, a knee replacement is still possible several years down the line.
- Knee osteotomy surgery can often make the knee feel more stable. Patients report that they don’t feel that their knee is in danger of giving way anymore.
When painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy and other treatments no longer help, the only option is surgery. In the UK, the vast majority of patients with knee pain are referred for knee replacement surgery. But is this the only option?