Minimally invasive knee surgery sees Richard back on the golf course and skiing better than ever with no pain.

Richard Thomas, aged 56, had a double-level osteotomy to his thighbone and shinbone in December 2016. Here is an update in Spring 2018.

Prior to making the decision to go ahead with osteotomy, Richard searched online about ‘new knees’, and had gone to see a doctor who said he was too young for a knee replacement, but who suggested injections. The doctor did not mention osteotomy. Richard went online again anyway, and while researching knee replacement surgeons osteotomy started coming up as being an option to avoid having an early ‘new knee’. After further extensive research Professor Adrian Wilson’s name came up, both as a surgeon and as lecturer on the topic, and he thought that he would rather have someone who taught surgeons and is a surgeon himself.

Adrian explained the surgery: “Richard was an ideal patient for an osteotomy as he was fit and had been previously active. His osteotomy involved cutting both the shin and the thigh. This allowed me to straighten his leg so he was able to walk and carry out all the activities he enjoyed previously. The X-rays I took after Richard’s operation reflect that we actually got a perfect result.”

Richard explains the lack of pain he felt: “I had no pain on the day the surgery or the day after. Because there was so little pain, there was a temptation to put too much weight on my knee and people were astonished that I was really in so little pain.”

Nine months after his osteotomy, just prior to having the plates removed, Richard said at the time: “I am able to walk upstairs with no pain at all, I can stand up from a settee or chair with both legs rather than favouring one, a round of golf is fine except for a slight ache which is due the muscles in that leg not being back to full strength”.

Although it was only 5 months after surgery he was keen to Ski in April last year but Professor Wilson said it was too early, so while everyone else skied, Richard walked up the mountain which was good exercise. Previously, he would have found walking painful and not pleasurable at all.

In November 2017, Richard had the metal fixings removed and started building up the muscles around the knee in the gym. He explains: “Prior to surgery exercise was painful which resulted in a reduction in muscle around the knee. Following surgery I have been able to cycle and use a rowing machine which has really improved my fitness.”

A further few months on, Richard enjoyed a ski holiday in Obergurgl, Austria in March 2018, and updated Adrian by email: “Back on the slopes and no pain! For the first time in many years I was able to ski without pain, even after a full day on the slopes the knee joint was fine with no swelling or pain and no limping. Due to the increased amount of exercise I was able to do prior to the holiday I skied better than before. I had thought that skiing with the kids was a thing of the past so it was a real pleasure to be able to try and keep up with them. Although my legs ached my knee was fine. Many thanks Prof.”

Adrian said: “I am delighted as Richard with the result. A knee osteotomy is an ideal treatment for such active patients as Richard and I’m very glad he is back to his previous activity levels.”