Conditions / Alignment and osteotomy
If the leg is bent, the knee is overloaded on one side. Straightening the leg can save the joint.
Bow legs or knock knees push body weight through one half of the knee. If that half is wearing out while the other is healthy, replacing the whole joint is a poor answer, especially under sixty. An osteotomy cuts and realigns the bone so the load moves onto the healthy side.
Interactive procedure guide
Changing the line of load.
You can still switch views and read every explanation.
01 / Straight
A reference alignment
The dashed line is an illustrative load path through the knee. Actual alignment planning uses standing images of the whole limb.
Use the front view to compare the bone positions.
Explore the anatomy
Illustrative anatomy. Colours, movement and implants are simplified to explain the principle; they do not show a specific patient or predict an outcome.
Signs
- Pain on one side of the knee only
- Visible bowing or knock-knee on standing
- Arthritis on one side on X-ray with a well-preserved other side
- A younger patient who wants to stay active
When surgery is, and is not, the answer
Osteotomy suits active patients with single-compartment wear and correctable alignment. It buys years, often more than a decade, before any replacement is needed and keeps the native knee.
It is also used alongside ligament or cartilage surgery when alignment is the reason the first procedure failed or would fail.
How it is done
The cut is made in the shin bone or the thigh bone depending on where the deformity is, opened or closed to the planned angle, and fixed with a plate.
Planning is done on full-length standing X-rays to the degree, and confirmed during the operation.
What recovery looks like
- Partial weight bearing for around six weeks while the bone heals
- Full activity and sport typically from four to six months
- Removal of the plate is optional and only if it causes discomfort
Timelines are typical ranges and are individualised. Progress is judged on strength and function, not dates.
Talk it through
If this sounds like your knee, contact Mediclinic to arrange a consultation with Dr Catteeuw. Bring any existing scans and reports so you can discuss the options together.