After Surgery

Medication
Your orthopedic surgeon may prescribe antibiotics to help prevent infection. You may also be prescribed pain medication to help relieve discomfort following your surgery.

Recovery
The typical hospital stay after an osteotomy is 1 to 2 days. Depending on your speed of healing, you will have to use crutches for 1 to 3 months. After that you begin rehabilitation for leg strengthening and walking exercises. You may be able to resume your full activities after 3-6 months. In most cases, your surgeon will not give you any specific restrictions once your recovery is complete.

Rehabilitation
You should exercise your knee regularly for several weeks following surgery to strengthen the muscles of your leg and knee. A physical therapist may help you with your exercise program if your orthopedic surgeon recommends specific exercises.

Expectations After Osteotomy
Osteotomy relieves pain and may delay the progression of osteoarthritis, however the benefits of an osteotomy are usually temporary. There is a chance that you'll need a total knee replacement in about 5 to 7 years. Total knee replacement after an ostotomy can be a technically more challenging surgery.

Your knee may not look symmetrical after osteotomy since the object of the surgery was to shift loads away from the damaged side of your knee to the more healthy side. Infections and other complications are possible.