Lower femoral Osteotomy Surgery

Why is Lower Femoral Osteotomy Performed?

This procedure is performed in those patients who have osteoarthritis. The patient might feel excruciating pain due to degenerative congenital lower limb deformity. The difficulties arising out of the condition may cause long-term complications and even disability, if timely surgical intervention is not sought.

Who Fits in the Criteria for Lower Femoral Osteotomy?

In order to undergo this procedure, a patient must fulfill the following criteria:

• The patient should be less than 60 years old.
• Osteoarthritis is the primary indication.
• Ligament should be in decent condition for the surgery.
• Willing to comply with rehabilitation.
• Malalignment in the joint with or without cartilage deficiency.
• Malalignment in the joint with or without meniscal deficiency.

How is Lower Femoral Osteotomy Performed?

Your medical procedure will be performed using either a general soporific or a spinal soporific. Amid your medical procedure, your specialist will cut the lower portion of your femur (thigh bone). The incision will cover the entire bone yet will leave a small segment of bone to create a pivot. At that point using x-ray guidance, your specialist will open the pivot in your bone until your leg is straight. Once the right angle is accomplished, it will be fixed using a plate and screws. The plate and screws act like a cast that you would wear if you somehow happened to break your arm. Once your bone is settled, and the screws are put, your specialist will then put a material called Optium in the region of the cut. Optium is a bone putty that promotes healing. In the end, the incision will be shut using dissolvable sutures.

Postoperative Follow-up

Healing from an osteotomy takes a while. The site of the medical procedure will be extremely sore and painful. Your doctor will advise that you shouldn't put any weight on it immediately, which means that you won't be able to walk or pursue sports for a while. You will have to use crutches, wheelchair or similar support. The recovery period may take up to 40 days.

What Complications May Arise?

Like many other invasive surgeries, lower or distal femoral osteotomy may cause some postoperative complications, which are:

• Bleeding and infections are possible.
• Longer healing period may cause discomfort and inconvenience.
• The bone may heal slowly or not heal at all.
• The plate used for fixing the bone may cause irritation of the overlaying tissue.
• The range of movement may be restricted.