Living with one bad arthritic knee and the other moderately so for a year and a half, I had them both corrected as per the title, at one sitting. After 9-10 months I could walk 10+ miles over rough hills and after two years have done 15+ in the Cairngorms. I was able to cycle indoors at 8 weeks, outdoors at 3 months.
This operation involves cutting the Tibia (shin bone), across below the knee, opening a wedge shape gap, inserting a bone graft and plating top to bottom parts. The idea is to straighten deformed legs, in mine and most cases bow legs (medically called varus), so that the line of force goes through the centre of the knee, or slightly to the outer side, as opposed to through the arthritic inner side before the operation. The same can be done in the lower thigh for knock knee (valgus) arthritic knees, but note both operations can only be done if it is only one side of the knee that is arthritic and has been destroyed to cause the deformity (or worsen a pre-existing one), not if the whole knee is involved.
These procedures are ideal for the younger and/or active person, avoiding knee replacement and thus avoiding the possibility of being one of the unfortunate 5-10% of people who are not improved by replacement, and also avoiding being a hostage to fortune forever.
I was in a wheelchair for five weeks (two chairs actually, one upstairs) and crutches then for a month. Off work 4.5 months. You have to have something (or someone, or both!) to keep you sane during this time. I occupied myself writing half the book you can see on the website.
Definitely worth it! These procedures are making a comeback (I used to do them in a much less scientific way, and gave up), and at present not many centres are doing it, but things will change.
Leave a Reply