Knee Specialties Knee Osteotomy

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Knee Osteotomy Overview

Joint malalignment often contributes to painful dysfunction. Knee osteotomy is a surgical procedure designed to normalize joint alignment with the goal of pain reduction, improvement in function, and quality of life.

Why Knee Osteotomy?

Knee osteotomy is a powerful procedure that unloads damaged portions of the joint and shifts weight toward the intact surfaces. Patient specific osteotomy may correct varus/valgus deformity (ie bow leg, knock knee), address abnormal limb rotation, kneecap alignment, tibial slope, or a combination of factors.


Who Should Have a Knee Osteotomy?

Knee osteotomy is utilized in active patients with joint malalignment who are not yet candidates for joint replacement. Typical patients have pain and/or swelling with daily life function and cannot perform higher level activities. Most patients have tried conservative measures including physical therapy, unloader bracing, and injection therapy before considering surgery. Osteotomy patients often present with complex and/or chronic conditions (i.e. young patient with arthritis, chronic ligament injury, meniscus deficiency, cartilage damage, or combination) and/or failed prior surgery. Type of osteotomy is INDIVIDUALIZED based on patient factors and deformity present. Commonly performed osteotomies include opening or closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy and high tibial osteotomy, tibial tubercle osteotomy (i.e. Fulkerson osteotomy), tibial slope changing osteotomy, or femoral de-rotation osteotomy.


What Can I Expect From a Knee Osteotomy?

Knee osteotomy surgery is individualized based on patient specific factors and their underlying malalignment. These procedures may be performed in isolation following arthroscopy or as part of a combined procedure including ligament reconstruction, meniscus surgery, and/or cartilage restoration. Knee osteotomy is typically performed as a short overnight stay. Patients should expect a period of initial protection with brace/crutches and limited weightbearing for 6-8 weeks. Post-op rehabilitation is performed 2-3X/week for several months. Return to activity and sport is INDIVIDUALIZED and is based on both minimum time from surgery and, more importantly, functional progression wth rehabilitation.


Additional Knee Osteotomy Videos

Tibial Osteotomy with Closed Wedge

Tibial Osteotomy with Open Wedge

AOSSM Sports Medicine Fellows Webinar Series: Cartilage Restoration and Osteotomies

Knee Osteotomy Video Provided by Arthrex, a medical device manufacturer used by Dr. Sherman.