Cutting the femur to realign the knee and relieve pressure.
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Femoral osteotomy
A femoral osteotomy is a surgical procedure in which the thighbone is cut to change the alignment of the knee. This procedure can help relieve pain and delay the need for a total knee replacement in young patients with arthritis.
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Indications
A distal femoral osteotomy is performed to correct knee misalignment that can cause excessive loading and degeneration on one side of the knee joint. This surgery is often done in young, active, or middle-aged patients with a knock-kneed deformity (genu valgus) or arthritis. It can delay the need for a knee replacement for 5 to 15 years. Genu valgus is when the shin bone turns outwards in relation to the thigh bone.
Preparation & Surgical Procedure
Preoperative preparation includes detailed imaging studies (X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs) to evaluate the degree of misalignment and to plan the surgery. The goal is to shift the weight-bearing axis of the knee to a healthier part of the joint. The surgery is performed under general or regional anesthesia. A lateral (outer) incision is made on the distal femur, just above the knee joint. The surgeon uses a guide to make a bone cut, which can be either a closing wedge (a wedge of bone is removed) or an opening wedge (a gap is opened and filled with a bone graft). The femur is then realigned to correct the deformity.