Osteotomy for Knee and Hip Pain: How Realigning Bones Can Improve Function with Dr. Santanu Choudhury
When you experience chronic knee or hip pain, everyday activities can become incredibly difficult. For individuals suffering from osteoarthritis or joint deformities, the pain and discomfort often worsen over time, making it challenging to remain active or even perform basic movements. While joint replacement may be an option in the future, many patients may benefit from a less invasive procedure known as osteotomy.
Osteotomy is a surgical procedure where bones are cut and realigned to correct misalignments, alleviate pain, and improve joint function. By redistributing weight and pressure, osteotomy can relieve pain and improve mobility, often preventing or delaying the need for total joint replacement.
In this blog, Dr. Santanu Choudhury, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, explores how osteotomy for knee and hip pain can transform your life by realigning the bones to reduce pain, improve function, and extend the lifespan of your joint.
What is Osteotomy and How Does It Work?
Osteotomy is a procedure where a bone is surgically cut and reshaped to change its alignment. The goal of osteotomy is to relieve the pressure on the joint and improve its function, especially when misalignment is the cause of pain and limited mobility.
When it comes to knee and hip pain, osteotomy is commonly performed for patients suffering from conditions such as:
- Osteoarthritis: The gradual wear and tear of cartilage that leads to bone rubbing against bone, causing pain and inflammation.
- Joint Deformities: Abnormal bone structures or deformities that result in the misalignment of the knee or hip joint.
For the knee, high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is often performed, where the tibia (shinbone) is realigned to redistribute weight away from the damaged side of the knee. For the hip, femoral osteotomy can be used to correct bone alignment, relieving pressure on the hip joint and improving function.
Benefits of Osteotomy for Knee and Hip Pain
1. Pain Relief
By realigning the bones in the knee or hip joint, osteotomy can help distribute weight more evenly, reducing pressure on the damaged areas. This can significantly alleviate pain and discomfort, providing a much-needed reprieve for patients with chronic joint issues.
2. Improved Joint Function and Mobility
Osteotomy improves the biomechanics of the joint, which helps restore mobility and functionality. By correcting the alignment, patients often experience a greater range of motion, allowing them to return to daily activities like walking, climbing stairs, or engaging in sports.
3. Delaying or Avoiding Joint Replacement
For individuals with early to moderate-stage osteoarthritis, osteotomy can often delay or even eliminate the need for a total knee or hip replacement. By redistributing pressure and relieving pain, osteotomy helps preserve the natural joint, giving patients more time before considering a more invasive procedure like joint replacement.
4. Slowing Down Joint Degeneration
Correcting misalignment can help reduce the wear and tear on cartilage, potentially slowing the progression of osteoarthritis and preventing further joint degeneration. Osteotomy helps protect the remaining healthy cartilage by ensuring the joint functions more efficiently.
5. Enhanced Quality of Life
By reducing pain and improving joint function, osteotomy can have a profound impact on your quality of life. Patients often report feeling like they’ve gained a new lease on life, with improved mobility and the ability to enjoy activities that were once painful or difficult.
What to Expect from Osteotomy Surgery
Pre-Surgery Consultation:
Before the surgery, Dr. Santanu Choudhury will conduct a thorough evaluation, including physical exams, X-rays, or MRIs, to assess the extent of the damage and determine whether osteotomy is the best treatment option. You will also discuss your medical history, any medications you’re taking, and your goals for the procedure.
The Surgical Procedure:
Osteotomy is usually performed under general anesthesia and can take 1-2 hours. The surgeon will make an incision to access the bone, carefully cut it, and then realign it to correct the deformity. In some cases, screws, plates, or pins may be used to hold the bones in place during the healing process.
Post-Surgery Recovery:
Recovery after osteotomy involves managing pain, following post-operative care instructions, and starting physical therapy to regain strength and mobility. Most patients are encouraged to start weight-bearing exercises gradually, and physical therapy plays a key role in recovery, helping to restore joint function and flexibility.
The full recovery process can take several months, and it’s essential to follow Dr. Choudhury’s advice for optimal healing. With dedication to rehabilitation, most patients report a significant improvement in mobility and a reduction in pain within a few months after surgery.
Is Osteotomy Right for You?
If you’re experiencing knee or hip pain due to osteoarthritis or joint deformities, osteotomy may be an excellent option to relieve pain, improve joint function, and delay the need for joint replacement. Dr. Santanu Choudhury is dedicated to helping patients explore all their treatment options and will work with you to determine if osteotomy is the right choice for your specific needs.
Osteotomy is a powerful procedure that offers many benefits, especially for patients in the early stages of joint degeneration. If you want to learn more about how osteotomy can improve your joint health and enhance your quality of life, contact Dr. Santanu Choudhury for a consultation today.