Aftercare

Shortly after the operation, the affected joint should be spared and immobilized for the time being until the newly joined bone ends are in a stable condition again. Depending on the joint and the operation performed, this period of rest can last 6-12 weeks. It is necessary to take x-rays of the operated joint at regular intervals to monitor the healing process and to be able to intervene again if necessary.

Prospects of success

Depending on the affected joint and the surgery performed, the chances of success vary greatly. The correction of the axes and lengths accompanying knee or hip TEPs is usually free of complications and does not require further correction. It should be noted, however, that unilateral TEP operations often lead to incorrect loading of the other leg, which can also lead to malpositioning.

For this reason, the opposite side is usually also operated on years after implantation of a hip or knee TEP. The chances of success with a hallux valgus osteotomy are less successful. It often takes months before patients can walk properly again after surgery. If the patient continues to be incorrectly loaded, the hallux valgus may also reappear. Furthermore, after an osteotomy of the big toe, bone is also removed, which leads to toe shortening and may cause instability in walking and standing.Finally, the postoperative course is described as particularly painful by the patients.

Adjustment osteotomy of the hip

Corrective surgery in the hip is relatively rarely performed alone. Only in cases of very severe malpositioning of the thigh is this operation performed. Much more frequently, however, corrective osteotomies are performed in conjunction with the implantation of a total hip endoprosthesis.

In case of fractures of the neck of the femur after a fall or in case of joint destruction in case of hip joint arthrosis, the indication for a hip TEP implantation can be given. During this operation, in almost all cases axis corrections as well as corrections of the leg lengths are made after the prosthesis material has been inserted. There are two main reasons for this: on the one hand, leg length differences that may have led to incorrect posture in the patient over the years can be corrected relatively easily (the hip TEP is only corrected slightly or realigned so that the leg axis is correct again). On the other hand, the leg axis and leg length must generally be realigned after the insertion of a hip endoprosthesis. With this osteosynthesis procedure, the axes can be shifted several cm to the left or right and the leg lengths can be corrected accordingly.