Osteotomy

Osteotomy is the practice of breaking a bone using surgical precision, in order to realign it in a more optimal position. Metalware such as plates and screws are used to secure the new position.

Mr O’Bryan prefers to utilise 3-Dimensional planning software to fine-tune osteotomy, and utilise a patient-specific custom guide to execute that plan.

This sounds like an extreme procedure, and in a way it is! However, when appropriate, there may be no procedure that can match the satisfaction of a patient that has had a successful osteotomy.

Osteotomy can be used to realign different parts of the lower limb for various conditions.

A classic example of osteotomy is to realign the part of the knee that takes a patient’s weight, to offload an arthritic part of the knee and relieve pain. Other situations include shifting the patella insertion into the tibia in cases of Patella Alta, a high unstable patella. Osteotomy can be used to change the alignment of the knee in cases of failed ACL reconstruction. There are many other instances where osteotomy can be beneficial, depending on the patient’s complaint.

These surgeries are not done whimsically, as it requires intensive rehabilitation as the bone heals back together.