What is DFO?
A DFO, or Distal Femoral Osteotomy, is a type of surgery used to fix the alignment between your hip and knee.
When your leg bones aren’t lined up correctly or have too much rotation in them, it can put too much stress on certain parts of your knee. This can make kneecap problems worse and may lead to early arthritis. Fixing the alignment can help your kneecap stay in place and protect your knee over time.
What does the surgery entail?
During this surgery, the doctor makes a large cut on the outside of your thigh. Then, they cut and reposition and/or rotate the femur (your thigh bone) to better line up the hip and knee.
Once the bone is in the right position, it is held in place with a metal plate and screws. The cut is closed with dissolvable stitches and small tape strips called steri-strips.
How long will I stay in the hospital?
With this surgery, you typically stay 1-2 nights. This is dependent on pain control and progress with physical therapy.
What are the possible risks and complications of surgery?
As with any surgery there is a risk of blood clots, nerve damage, and postoperative infection. Specific risks and complications include but aren’t limited to failure to heal, fracture, and hardware complications.
When can I drive?
With the left leg, it's ok to drive once you are off opioid medication and you can safely and easily bend your knee to 90 degrees, for the right leg, it depends on when you can safely regain your reaction time in order to keep you and others safe. This is typically around 8-10 weeks postoperatively but depends on your individual surgery and your recovery.
When can I resume jogging?
When you have demonstrated optimal single leg strength, often assessed by the ability to safely perform a controlled single leg step down, and completed a return to run progression under the supervision of your physical therapist and surgeon, you can begin jogging. This often starts with stationary bicycling with transition to elliptical and then treadmill intervals before full return to running.