Osteotomy

In many cases, the progressive degeneration of the cartilage (osteoarthritis) of the knee is due to a poor distribution of the load on the joint, which causes the pressure exerted on the articular surface to be excessive at a particular point. In turn, this irregular load distribution is due to an abnormal axis of the leg, which can be varus () or valgus ()().

Sometimes, it is necessary to stop the chondral deterioration and the pain that this entails, correcting the angle of impact of the knee, by means of a surgical procedure called osteotomy. The surgery consists of cutting and repositioning a portion of the tibia or femur to rectify the deformity and achieve an equal distribution of forces on the cartilage of the knee. It is usually performed by open or semi-percutaneous open surgery and may require the use of pins, screws and plates to hold the bone in its new position. Recovery time may vary depending on the type of osteotomy and the patient, but usually requires several weeks of rehabilitation to regain mobility and strength.

It is a relatively invasive surgery and it is only recommended in those cases where the aim is to stop the progression of osteoarthritis caused by an incorrect alignment of the lower extremity. For a greater and faster improvement, we usually combine this technique with others such as arthroscopic chondroplasty or orthobiological procedures.