Knee Osteotomy is a surgical procedure done when arthritis damages one area of the knee. The surgery results in correction of knee alignment and improvement of knee function.
The word ‘osteotomy’ means cutting of the bone. It is a surgical procedure done when arthritis damage affects only one area of the knee. The tibia called as the shinbone or femur called as thigh bone is cut or may be reshaped to shift the body weight from the damaged side of the knee to the other side of the knee which is not affected by arthritis damage. The surgery results in correction of knee alignment and improvement of knee function.
The two types of knee osteotomy are:
The most common type of osteotomy performed is high tibial osteotomy.
It is indicated in patients where arthritis damage is on only one side of the knee joint.
Knee osteotomy is preferred over total knee replacement in relatively young patients (40-60 years of age) so that healthy knee portion can be used for few more years.
To undergo knee osteotomy, patient should not be overweight and must also have good knee mobility.
The selected tendon is harvested and the graft of the correct size is prepared.
As with any surgery, there is risk of reaction to anesthetic medications. The patient may have breathing difficulty; there is also risk of infection and excessive bleeding.
There may be formation of blood clot in the legs and a blood vessel or nerve may be injured. There may also be knee stiffness post surgery and knee joint may not be properly aligned.
It is also called as proximal tibial osteotomy; lateral closing wedge osteotomy or distal femoral osteotomy.
Knee osteotomy will prolong the life span of the knee joint and postpone the need for knee replacement and also allows a younger patient to lead a more active lifestyle for more years.
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