Corrective osteotomy for knee deformities

A corrective osteotomy is surgery that realigns the bones around the knee to fix deformities like bow legs and knock knees. By evening out how weight passes through the joint, it can ease pain, improve movement, and put off the need for a knee replacement. It is used most in younger, active people and can keep the knee working better for years.

About knee deformities

The knee is supported by the thigh bone (femur) above and the shin bone (tibia) below. When these bones do not line up properly, your weight passes unevenly through the knee and presses too hard on one side.

Over time that uneven load causes pain, wears down the joint, and limits how well the knee works.

These deformities, mainly bow legs and knock knees, can be present from birth, follow an injury or a fracture that healed in the wrong position, or come from early arthritis.

People often notice knee pain, trouble walking, and a sense of uneven pressure in the joint. When arthritis is also present, there may be swelling, stiffness, and less movement.

Who gets a corrective osteotomy

This surgery is done most often in younger, active people who have a knee deformity or early joint wear and want to protect the knee and stay active.

It is also used in children with growth-related deformities, and in adults whose knee is misaligned after a fracture that healed crookedly or who have early arthritis on one side.

How knee deformities are diagnosed

Diagnosis is based on a physical exam and imaging, mainly X-rays. These show how the leg lines up and the exact type of deformity, which tells the surgeon which procedure will correct it.

A few other problems can cause similar symptoms, including knee arthritis, ligament injuries, meniscus tears, and old fractures that healed out of line, so imaging helps sort them out.

When to consider corrective osteotomy

Surgery is not always the first step. For milder cases, pain relief, physical therapy, and sometimes a brace can manage the symptoms early on.

Osteotomy is considered when the deformity is causing ongoing pain and damage, particularly in a younger, active person who is not ready for a knee replacement. The goal is to shift weight off the worn side and buy the natural knee more good years.

Types of corrective osteotomy

The right operation depends on where the misalignment is and the patient’s age. (Varus means bowlegged; valgus means knock-kneed.)

• High tibial osteotomy (HTO): done on the shin bone near the top of the knee. This is the most common osteotomy for people with knee arthritis, and it corrects both bowlegs and knock knees.
• Supracondylar femoral osteotomy (SCFO): done on the thigh bone just above the knee, removing a wedge of bone to correct a bowleg (varus) deformity.
• Lateral tibial osteotomy (LTO): done on the outer shin bone, used mainly in children so the bone’s growth zone is not damaged.

The corrective osteotomy procedure

In all of these, the surgeon cuts the bone and realigns it so weight passes through the healthy part of the knee instead of the worn or overloaded side. Depending on the deformity, this may mean removing a wedge of bone (as in a supracondylar femoral osteotomy) or reshaping the tibia above or below the bony bump on the front of the shin (the tibial tuberosity). The bone is then held in its new position while it heals.

Corrective osteotomy recovery

Most people have less pain and better function once they have recovered. As the bone heals in its new position, movement and mobility improve, and many return to active lifestyles after healing is complete. Your surgeon will guide how quickly you put weight on the leg and step up activity, since the bone needs time to knit.

Risks of corrective osteotomy

Serious problems are uncommon, but the main risks are infection, the bone not healing (called non-union), arthritis continuing to progress, and instability if the alignment is not quite right.

Overcorrecting the angle can shift too much load onto another part of the knee, so getting the alignment right is the heart of the operation.

Long-term outlook

Long-term studies show a corrective osteotomy can relieve symptoms for decades. Many people report good alignment, less pain, and better function. It is not always a permanent fix: some people still develop arthritis over time or eventually need a knee replacement, but the surgery can delay that for years.

Insurance & Cost

Corrective osteotomy for knee deformities at Complete Orthopedics is covered by Medicare and most major insurance carriers (Aetna, Anthem BCBS, Cigna, Empire BCBS, UnitedHealthcare), as well as most workers’ compensation and no-fault insurance plans. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your specific plan, deductible, and the medical necessity criteria that apply to your case.

Call our billing team at (631) 981-2663 before scheduling to verify your coverage and discuss expected out-of-pocket costs. For the full list of carriers we accept and patient billing protections, see our Insurance Information page.