In young patients with symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, degeneration of the joint can be slowed by resorting to corrective knee osteotomy. Indeed, in these cases, cartilage wear has not yet reached the bone, leaving a layer of cells that can be preserved by correcting the cause of wear.
The cause of consumption is a deviation of the load axis:
- Varus knee: inward loading axis, also known as “bracket knees.” In this case, a valgus osteotomy (of the tibia) will be performed;
- Valgus knee: outward loading axis, also known as “X-knees.” In this case, a variant osteotomy (of the femur) will follow.
Corrective valgus osteotomy (in case of varus knee)
Variant osteotomy (in case of valgus knee)
post-operative rehabilitation
Postoperative rehabilitation of corrective osteotomy normally involves the use of a postoperative knee brace for the first month, allowing walking with two crutches and allowing only a few kilograms of loading; after 30 days, the knee brace is removed and progressive loading is allowed until the crutches are completely abandoned.
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