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Introduction:

Some children have conditions that affect movement and cause them to walk with their legs turned inwards. 

Femoral derotation osteotomy is a procedure that turns the legs out into the correct position, making walking easier and more comfortable. 

Your child’s treatment team will let you know if any tests or scans need to be done and whether they need to see a physiotherapist or occupational therapist before the procedure

The hospital will call you before your child’s procedure to let you know:

• what time you need to arrive
• when your child needs to stop eating and drinking
• how long your child may need to stay in the hospital.

You may also want to tell:

• your child’s school of their surgery
• your workplace that you may need time off around the surgery
• friends and family who may be able to help out while your child is recovering.

Your child will be under a general anaesthetic for the procedure. This means they will be asleep and will not feel any pain. 

In the femoral derotation osteotomy procedure:

1. the thigh bone is cut through at its upper end
2. the bone is turned so that the knee faces forward when walking
3. plates and screws are inserted to hold the bone in its new position.

The procedure can be done on one or both legs if needed.

After the procedure, your child will be given pain medicine. In hospital, pain management is given through:

• a nerve block
• a drip
• oral medicine.

Your child’s doctor will let you know when they can go home from the hospital. This will depend on: 

• their recovery 
• how strong the bone is 
• whether any other procedures were done at the same time.

Your child’s doctor will let you know when they can put weight on their leg after surgery. They may also need to wear a knee brace after surgery to stabilise the leg and make it more comfortable when moving.