Bone Deformity Correction in Sharjah

What is bone deformity correction?

Bone deformity correction is an operation that changes the shape or length of a bone so that the limb lines up properly again. The surgeon makes a controlled cut in the bone, called an osteotomy, moves the bone into a planned position, and holds it there while it heals.

A detail many patients find surprising: the correction is planned on paper before it happens in theatre. The surgeon measures angles and lengths on full-length standing X-rays of both legs, draws the line that the weight of the body should follow through the hip, knee and ankle, and works out exactly where the bone is bent and by how much. The osteotomy is placed at that point, which can be some distance from where the leg looks bent.

At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, bone deformity correction is carried out in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department. Dr. Mohamed Kamal, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, has limb reconstruction as his particular field, including several years as acting consultant in limb lengthening and deformity correction at Khoula Hospital in Oman.

Who needs it

Bone deformity correction is considered when the shape of a bone is causing pain, uneven wear on a joint, difficulty walking, or a visible difference that matters to you. Common reasons include:

• Bow legs or knock knees that persist beyond the age at which children's legs usually straighten, or that develop in adults with uneven knee wear
• Malunion, where a fracture has healed in a bent, twisted or shortened position
• A difference in leg length, from an old injury, a childhood bone infection or a condition present from birth
• A twist in the thigh bone or shin bone that turns the foot inwards or outwards

For children, much of the assessment happens through pediatric orthopedics, because many curves in young children straighten with growth, and some growing bones can be guided straight with a small operation near the growth plate. For adults, the alternatives include a shoe raise for a small length difference, bracing, physiotherapy and pain relief, and a joint replacement for a knee already worn by arthritis. The surgeon weighs the size of the deformity, the state of the nearby joints, your age and your daily demands, and the decision is made with you.

What happens

Bone deformity correction is performed under general anaesthesia or a regional anaesthetic. The method depends on the size of the correction.

Acute correction is done in one operation. The surgeon cuts the bone at the planned point, angles or rotates it into the corrected position, and fixes it with a plate and screws on the surface of the bone or a nail passed down its hollow centre. X-rays taken in theatre confirm the new alignment before the wound is closed.

Gradual correction uses an external frame. Rings or bars sit outside the limb and connect to the bone with wires or pins that pass through the skin. After the osteotomy, the frame is adjusted by small amounts each day, moving the bone slowly into line or, for lengthening, drawing the two ends apart so that new bone forms in the gap. Gradual correction suits large deformities and lengthening, because the nerves, blood vessels and muscles stretch gently along with the bone. You or a family member learn to make the daily adjustments, following a written schedule.

Preparing for it

Preparation starts with the planning X-rays, usually standing films of the whole leg, and sometimes a CT scan to measure a twist in the bone. Bring any earlier X-rays and operation notes, especially for a fracture that healed out of line, since old metalwork may be removed during the same operation.

A pre-operative assessment, blood tests and an anaesthetic review confirm you are ready. Blood thinners and diabetes medicines each need a plan, and you receive clear fasting instructions. Stopping smoking before surgery helps the bone heal. If a frame is planned, bring loose trousers or clothing that opens at the side, and arrange your home so that you can move around safely on crutches. If you plan surgery around Ramadan, raise the timing early.

Afterwards

Walking with crutches starts soon after the operation, and your surgeon sets how much weight the leg may take for your correction. Physiotherapy is central to recovery. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, the physical therapists work closely with the orthopedic surgeons, keeping the knee and ankle moving while the bone heals. This matters most during lengthening, when the muscles tighten as the bone grows.

With a frame, clean the pin sites regularly as you are taught. In the Sharjah heat, keep the frame and the skin around it dry and change sweaty clothing promptly. Clinic visits with X-rays track the correction and the new bone. Your surgeon gives you a timeline for your case and plans your return to work around your job, since desk work, driving and manual work each follow a different plan.

Contact the hospital if a pin site becomes red, swollen or painful, or leaks cloudy fluid, if a wire or pin feels loose, or if you develop a fever. **Go to the emergency department straight away if your calf becomes swollen and painful, you become short of breath, or your toes turn numb, pale or cold.**

Cost and insurance

Most UAE insurance plans cover bone deformity correction when it is medically needed for pain, joint wear or difficulty walking, and planned surgery almost always requires pre-approval supported by the X-rays and the surgeon's report. Correction sought only for appearance is often excluded. Frames, plates and nails may be assessed separately, and some plans cap the number of physiotherapy sessions. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.