A surgical technique called osteotomy is used to correct alignment or malunion in a bone. It can be used to fix a broken bone, remove a part of a bone, or cut open a bone.

osteotomy is used to correct joint concerns or injuries. It is also used when bones are different lengths.

People of all ages can have this procedure.

If you or someone you love is having an osteotomy, you should read this to learn more about it.

The word “osteotomy” means “cutting of the bone.” It is a surgical procedure in which one of your bones is cut to remove or rearrange it.

You might need an operation. A structural malformation is one of these.

An example of this is a severe difference in the structure of a person’s jaw that creates a pronounced overbite or underbite. You could have an osteotomy for cosmetic reasons, such as to change the appearance of your face or jaw, or for medical reasons, such as to correct issues with breathing, eating, or speaking caused by the malformation.

Another common reason for an osteotomy is to correct damage from an injury or chronic deterioration.

Osteoarthritis is a common reason for osteotomy of the leg bones, particularly at the hip or knee joints. By cutting and reshaping bone segments, a surgeon can relieve pressure from areas of the joint where you are experiencing It is a pain. and damage.

In some cases, a surgeon may perform an osteotomy of the leg or arm joints to correct a difference in limb length.

There are several types of osteotomy, and the one you choose depends on factors like:

  • Which bone is affected?
  • Why are you having the procedure done?
  • Your overall health.
  • Your goals for surgery.

The specific technique your surgeon uses to perform the osteotomy will be determined by them. Some examples of different types of surgery.

  • The closed-wedge is on the other side.
  • The opening is a bit wide.
  • The dome is osteotomy.
  • Hemicallotasis has an external fixator.

The surgical location is where some common names for osteotomy types are found.

  • Jaw: dentofacial osteotomy, corrective jaw surgery
  • Chin: osteotomy of the chin
  • Elbow: French osteotomy
  • Spine: spinal osteotomy
  • Knee: high tibial osteotomy during knee surgery
  • Hip: McMurry osteotomy, Pauwel’s osteotomy, Salter’s osteotomy, Chiari’s osteotomy, Pemberton’s osteotomy

Before an osteotomy, a healthcare professional will perform diagnostic tests to help identify the exact location and degree of damage that needs to be repaired. Your surgeon may use imaging tests like an X-ray or CT scan to map out the affected bone and make a plan for reshaping and remodeling and damaged area.

You will also undergo general preoperative testing like blood tests to check for clotting disorders and an examination of Your overall health..

The doctor performing the surgery and your specific instructions will be the difference between a successful surgery and a failed one. In many instances of hip or knee osteotomy, your surgeon may recommend you take steps such as:

  • improving Your overall health.
  • Losing weight.
  • Taking a class to review therapy.
  • reviewing current medications and allergies

What to ask your doctor before an osteotomy

Before your osteotomy — as with any surgery — it can be helpful to ask your surgeon questions about how to prepare, what to expect on the day of surgery, and what your recovery will be like. Each hospital or surgical center may have its own procedures, and being prepared for what is about to happen can help relieve any anxiety about the procedure.

Before surgery, you should ask your doctor some questions.

  • Is there someone I can have drive me to the surgery?
  • When do I need to stop drinking?
  • Should I take my medication?
  • What should I bring with me?
  • Will I be in the hospital? How many days?
  • What type of anesthesia will be used?
  • How long will my surgery take?
  • How big will the incision be?
  • When can I see my family?
  • How will my It is a pain. be managed after surgery?
  • When will I begin physical therapy or rehab?
  • What are the types of restrictions I will have after the operation?
  • How long will my recovery take?

You will be given instructions on when to stop drinking, taking drugs, and eating, as well as when to get to the hospital. You will be taken to a room where you will be put into a gown and then have to bathe in a solution to kill anybacteria on your skin.

Your medical team will review the surgical plan, your allergies, and any concerns you may have. A healthcare professional will place tubes called intravenous catheters or IVs so that you can receive medications during the surgery.

The surgeon will make adjustments based on the specific procedure you are having.

  1. A healthcare professional will take you to the room and drape you in a sterile drape. The surgical team will clean the site after they confirm what is about to be done.
  2. You will receive sedation, usually in the form of general anesthesia. This often requires the use of a breathing tube during the surgery that is later removed in the recovery area.
  3. A surgeon will make an open cut through your body to expose the bone.
  4. They will use a surgical saw to cut and shape your bone. They may place implants or bone gnats to restructure your bone.
  5. Plates, screws, or other hardware may be used by the surgeon to secure the reconstructed bone.
  6. The surgery will be over when the incision is closed.

After your surgery, you are usually moved to a recovery area for close monitoring while the effects of your anesthesia wear off. The recovery area is where a breathing tube is usually removed.

If you have a drop in blood pressure or blood loss is a problem., healthcare professionals will treat you at this time. Once your surgical team is sure you can recover safely, you will be moved to a room for a few days to recuperate. You can go to a rehabilitation facility to finish your recovery.

Your doctor will check on you after the surgery. Things like: will manage your It is a pain..

You may also see physical and occupational health therapists. They can help you with your daily tasks after surgery.

Most surgeons want you to move as soon as possible after your surgery. They can apply a cast or brace to protect the wound as it heals.

In the weeks after you are released from the hospital, you will undergo therapy and rehabilitation that will help you get the most out of your remodeled bone. Full recovery can take roughly 3 to 6 months for knee osteotomy.

The risks of osteotomy are similar to those faced by other people.

Most people can resume their normal activities after 6 months. This is the time when your wounds can heal.

If you experience any surgical problems, you may need to have additional surgeries to fix the damaged area.

Who is a candidate for an osteotomy?

Although it depends on the specific bone, osteotomy candidates are generally people who are active, fit, and under age 60. It’s also important that there are still good areas of bone to keep and that there are no other underlying joint issues.

Will an osteotomy completely cure my condition?

An osteotomy is not always curative, as in the case of osteoarthritis. An osteotomy is often used to relieve It is a pain. and improve mobility in younger people, although a full joint replacement is usually still needed later in life.

Am I limited in how I can use the bone after surgery?

After surgery, it takes several months to heal. During this time, your doctor may recommend a reduction in the amount of weight you place on the surgical area. Throughout your recovery, you will increase your weight-bearing limit, eventually achieving full strength after 6 weeks or more in most cases.

An osteotomy is a surgery where diseased, damaged, or injured bone is cut and reshaped to improve function and reduce It is a pain..

Recovery from this surgery can take several months. This procedure may help you slow the progression of conditions like arthritis and extend the life of your natural bone, but you may still need additional surgeries down the road.