Bow-Leg Surgery in Adults

Appearance alone does not determine the need for an operation. The decision draws on pain, activity limits, knee stability, the location and degree of deformity, joint condition, overall health, and the person's goals.

An osteotomy corrects alignment by making a controlled cut in a bone, repositioning it and holding it with fixation while healing occurs. Depending on where the deformity originates, correction may involve the tibia, femur or more than one level.

The aim is to improve the mechanical line through the limb and redistribute load across the knee. The operation does not erase every possible source of pain, so the surgeon first assesses cartilage, ligaments, movement, bone shape and symptoms to determine whether realignment matches the problem.

Bring a clear account of where pain occurs, what activities are limited, prior injuries and treatments already tried. Standing imaging and a physical examination may be used to map alignment and plan correction. Discuss medications, smoking or nicotine use, home support and work demands because they can influence preparation and recovery.

Rehabilitation commonly progresses through protection of the healing bone, restoration of knee motion, rebuilding muscle capacity and gradual return to function. Weight-bearing instructions depend on the procedure and fixation, so follow the surgical team's plan rather than a generic online schedule.

Before surgery, obtain an assessment for persistent pain, increasing deformity, repeated giving way or declining walking ability. Sudden inability to bear weight after injury, a hot swollen joint, or fever with knee pain warrants prompt attention.

After an operation, contact the surgical team urgently for worsening wound redness or drainage, fever, pain that escalates despite the prescribed plan, new calf swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath, numbness, or a cold or discoloured foot. Use emergency services for severe breathing difficulty or chest pain.

Ask where your deformity is located, which symptoms are expected to improve, what type of osteotomy is proposed and what alternatives remain. Clarify fixation, bone-healing precautions, pain management, rehabilitation milestones, time away from driving and work, and the procedure-specific risks that apply to your health.