Osteotomies

The normal alignment of the leg is a straight line through the hip and ankle which should also go through the middle or slightly to the inside of the knee joint.

In bow leg deformity (varus) this line passes through the inside of the knee while in a knock knee (valgus) it will pass on the outside. When the alignment of the knee is abnormal, it can lead to early degeneration on the in or outside of the knee in young patient (less than 50 years).

Osteotomies can be performed to correct these deformities and relieve the load on the specific compartment.

For bow leg deformity, an open wedge osteotomy is performed below the knee in the tibia and a wedge of bone is inserted and fixed with a plate and screws. Thereby the weight bearing line is shifted to the outside compartment of the knee.

For a knock knee deformity an open wedge osteotomy is performed above the knee in the distal femur and a wedge of bone is inserted and fixed with plate and screws.

Patients are mobilized with crutches partial weight bearing on the affected leg. They are discharged on day 1-2. Bony healing occurs in 3 months but there will be improvement in function up to 1 year.