Hip malalignment causing knee problems – your experiences with surgery vs. conservative treatment?
Hey everyone,
I (36M) just saw a hip specialist today and would love to hear your opinions and experiences.
Diagnosis:
Flat or steep positioning of the femoral neck (Coxa vara/valga) – the malalignment causes my knee to be incorrectly positioned relative to my thigh, leading to knee problems. According to the doctor, the unfavorable load distribution will cause joint degeneration over time.
Options according to the specialist:
Major surgery (hip osteotomy) – on both hips, the bone is cut and realigned. Rehab ~1 year per side
Arthroscopic reshaping + conservative approach afterwards with physiotherapy and strength training to compensate for the malalignment
My situation:
Currently barely any symptoms in daily life
Physically active (MTB, calisthenics, strength training)
Would strongly prefer to avoid major surgery
Getting two more specialist opinions
My questions:
Has anyone had experience with hip osteotomy?
Has anyone tried the conservative route after arthroscopy – successfully?
What questions should I definitely ask the specialists?
Thanks!