Purpose and description of the procedure
This operation is a correction to the alignment of the leg, e.g. for a bowed leg or knock kneed leg, by cutting through the bone (osteotomy), changing the shape and holding it with a plate and screws. Wear in the medial (inner) compartment of the knee is treated by an opening wedge osteotomy made in the upper inner part of the tibia. This corrects slight bow legged alignment shifting the weight onto the well preserved lateral outer half of the knee. If there is wear or damage in the outer lateral compartment of the knee then an opening wedge osteotomy of the thigh bone is performed from the outer side, again shifting the weight off the damaged side of the knee. A plate and screws hold the position while the gap gradually fills in with bone over 2-3 months.
