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Distal femoral osteotomy is surgery that cuts and realigns the thighbone just above the knee. It can correct a deformity originating in the lower thighbone and change how weight passes through the knee. The corrected bone is held in place while it heals.
read more about distal femoral osteotomy ...The procedure may be considered for symptomatic knock-knee alignment that places excess pressure on the outside of the knee. It may also be part of treatment for selected knee instability or cartilage problems when bone alignment contributes to them. Standing X-rays help the surgeon locate the deformity and plan the correction.
The surgeon makes a planned cut in the lower femur and adjusts the bone to the intended angle. A plate and screws commonly hold the correction in place. The operation preserves the knee joint surfaces rather than replacing them.
The bone needs time to heal in its new position. Patients may start knee motion exercises while limiting how much weight they put on the leg, according to their surgeon's instructions. Follow-up X-rays help assess healing and guide a gradual return to activity.
Risks include infection, blood clots, nerve or blood vessel injury, and delayed healing or failure of the bone to unite. Hardware can cause discomfort, and the correction may not relieve all knee pain. Arthritis can still progress after alignment surgery.
No. It changes the alignment of the thighbone while preserving the knee joint. A knee replacement removes and resurfaces damaged joint surfaces.
The cut is placed in the distal femur when that part of the thighbone contributes to the alignment problem. Imaging determines whether correction should involve the femur, the shinbone, or both.
They generally remain after the bone heals. A surgeon may consider removing them later if they cause symptoms.
Patients may begin moving soon after surgery, but weight bearing is usually limited at first. Your surgeon sets the schedule based on the correction and bone healing.
Distal femoral osteotomy. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4596223/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Distal femoral osteotomy for the valgus knee: indications, complications, clinical and radiological outcome. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10491530/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Distal Femoral Osteotomy: Lateral Opening Wedge Technique. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5039957/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Osteotomy of the knee. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007499.htm. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Return to Work and Sport After Distal Femoral Osteotomy: A Systematic Review. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9460096/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.