Surgery for knock knees? Any experience, anyone?

[KittiesInsane]

DD is 12. Earlier this week she had what we thought was going to be a referral to start physiotherapy for her knee joints. Instead, after x-ray, the consultant told us the only correction available would be surgical.

Apparently there are two possibilities for this but (oh dear) as she's pretty much finished growing according to the x-rays, she would have to go for the osteotomy, involving essentially sawing through the femur and putting it back together straight.

So it's all a bit more radical than we were contemplating! DD is very fed up at the thought of knock knees forever, but understandably less than thrilled at the alternative. I'm an anxious type myself and reluctant to consider surgery for anything not currently dangling off by a bloodied thread.

She's fairly noticeably knock-kneed and says they ache most of the time, hit each other when she runs and 'hurt more' quite a bit of the time, but I'm sure I've seen many a worse waddle even on a casual glance round town.

Anyone have any experience of this? Is it really 'cut up or put up', without a middle way?

I was offered that surgery at around the same age as your DD as I am very knock kneed too, my Mum refused and although I hate how knock kneed I am, I don't think I would bother having them surgically altered.

Thanks! yes, I was wondering how she'd feel about it in later life. It does seem pretty drastic for a non-life-threatening condition (but they aren't my knees).

Wow!

I wouldn't let an orthopaedic surgeon anywhere near my 12 yo daughter.

has she seen a physio and a podiatrist/orthotist ?

I would try those before going for butchery orthopaedic surgery.

Well, referral to orthotics and physio are exactly what we thought we were going to see about, only to be told, 'Nope, those aren't likely to work, sorry' as a sort of conversation opener.

I have phoned and asked that someone else should take a look at the x-rays and give us a second opinion. DD's GP is also on the case now.

I think I would need to know the long term problems if it is not corrected. Im surprised the Consultant recommended surgery straight away. How does your DD feel about it? Not an easy decision to make.

It's more complex than your daughter's situation, but a family I know of have just home through an osteotomy (amongst a few other procedures). They've shared it on their blog www.bringingthesunshine.com.
Just thought it might give you a clearer idea of what the procedure would involve, although I'm not sure show much more is involved because of her other procedures.

We were surprised too, Pilates! I wanted to talk through what the implications were of just leaving it, but this was one of the brisk types of consultant...

Thanks, Edin, I'll have a look at that. It all sounds a bit, I dunno, sledgehammer to crack a nut in DD's case.

I expect you were in shock when he told you about the op and your mind went blank. Why don't you see if your Consultant has an email address and, if so, send a letter with your queries?

I think possibly she's too old for orthotics etc. Children have to be under five for orthotics to make a permanent difference, as far as I'm aware.

The irony is that I queried the wonkiness of her knees when she was little and was told she'd just grow out of it; and again when she was about 8 to be told it was just 'how she was' and nothing to be done.

Ah well.