Week 0-2: Rest + Recovery

The aims of this period are to:

• Reduce Swelling: Brace, Elevate and Compress
• Control Pain
• Straighten the knee, and start gently bending the knee (passive)
• Activate Quads (Quads sets) + Straight Leg raise

You will be on crutches for this period, but you can fully weight bear.  It is essential to be reviewed at 2 weeks to check your incisions and healing.

Week 2-6: Early Rehabilitation

Goals:

• Restore Range of Motion
• Control Swelling
• Balance Control
• Quads Control

Exercises(example only): stationary bike (start with the seat up high and slowly reduce), swimming with pool buoy between knees, walking without crutches

Week 6-12: Mid Rehabilitation

Goals: progress strength, balance, proprioception (+ taping), begin light impact work

• Balance, ROM, Strength
• Road cycling
• Begin straight line jogging

Week 12+: Sport Specific Retraining

Begin sport specific training, jogging, cutting activity

The rehabilitation and recovery after Tibial Tuberosity Osteotomy is similar to that of soft tissue surgery described above, except that the knee will be placed in a hinged knee brace for the first 6 weeks.

For the first two weeks the brace will be locked in extension for walking, sleeping, and activities of daily living.  Full weight bearing with brace on. It can be unlocked from 0-90 for range of motion activities for the first two weeks, then 0-120degrees from 2-6 weeks.  There should be no active knee extension for the first 6 weeks.

At the 6 week review, if X rays show the bone healing, then the brace can be weaned off.

There are general risks of any surgery, and risks specific to patella stabilisation procedures (not limited to):

General risks of any surgery:

• Risks of anaesthetics
• Risk of infection (<1%)
• Risk of scarring
• Blood Clots (DVT)

Specific risks of Patella Stabilisation Surgery:

• Recurrent Instability/Dislocation (1-2%)
• Prominence of screws/need for metalware to be removed
• Stiffness
• Arthritis
• Numbness (related to incisions around the knee)
• Fractures
• Bones not healing (non-union)
• Need for revision surgery