 Diagnosis & Therapy |
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 Bio prothesis |
"Knock Knees" and "Bow Legs"
(axial misalignment)
Why do these conditions cause problems with the knee?Both of these conditions lead to premature deterioration of the cartilage and the meniscus (the cushioning cartilage) in the knee joint. This, in turn, can develop into arthritis. Generally, only one leg is affected, and the uneven distribution of body weight further irritates the "bad knee". |
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How are they treated?In some cases, it is sufficient to treat only the cartilage deterioration through: 1) abrasion (which stimulates the blood supply and thus the growth of new cartilage) and 2) the removal of "stray bodies" which cause irritation, e.g. fragments of cartilage (see also the section on Arthritis of the Knee). If this is not sufficient however, straightening of the leg is also required. In this case, corrections must be made to the bone shape of either the upper (for knock knees) or lower (for bow legs) leg bone. This is done via a procedure similar to an artificial breakage whereby the shape is then corrected with plates and screws. The recovery procedure is also similar to that of a badly broken leg. |
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When will I be back on my feet?You will need to stay in the clinic for about a week, and then you will need to build up the amount of weight you put on the leg gradually. Being able to put your full weight on the leg takes about six to twelve weeks. During this time you do not need any physio - just a "continuous passive motion machine", which you use at home. |
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How long will I be off work?You can return to work before the bone has completely healed provided you use crutches. If this is not possible, you will have to wait until the bone has healed - how long this takes varies from patient to patient. |
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Can I play sports again?You will have to wait until the bone and cartilage have healed sufficiently, which varies from patient to patient. However, we have had patients who have been able to resume even the most demanding of sports after such treatment. |
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