The patello-femoral joint :
Tibial Turberosity Transfer - - Posted by Lucy (Lucy), 11 February 2004
I am booked in for a TTT on 1 Mar and feel remarkably ill informed as to how it will go. I failed to ask my surgeon the dozens of questions I now have. Here are some of them:
- how long will I be off work
-How long will I wear a brace or plaster
-Will I have to have a later procedure to remove the screws
-Will I be able to weight bear when I am on crutches
-What will the scar look like
Will I be able to bend my leg imediately post op
-How much post op pain will i be in
Any answers gratefully received
Posted by Heather (Heather), 12 February 2004
My only advice to you would be to call your OS and ask him/her these questions. Each TTT is different and done for different reasons. I can give you the answers regarding my personal experience, however, mine was to correct patella baja so it will vary quite extensively from your results. You have about 2 weeks, I would def. either try to get in to see your OS again (have you already done pre op?) or just get a phone consultation.
Good luck,
Heather
Posted by keri (keri), 4 October 2004
Hi Lucy,
I will try to answer your questions as best I can based on my experience. When I had my TTT I was out of school for about two weeks. I then went back on half days for another week, and was then back for full days. I was in a brace for about 2 months. I do not know about the screws because I am only 5 months post op. I was not allowed to weight bear for two weeks. My scar is about two inches long. It is located below my kneecap and in the center. My pain post op was pretty bad, but a lot of that had to do with the fact that my OS had to do more than one procedure b/c once he got in there he saw that part of my meniscus was completely shredded. I stayed in the hospital overnight so that they could get my pain under control. I was on crutches for about one and a half months. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask or you can IM me on yahoo.
Good Luck,
Keri 
Posted by nmcbride (nmcbride), 11 October 2004
Hey Lucy,
As the others have said, it depends on the individual, my experience was:-
how long will I be off work - I was off work for 4 months
How long will I wear a brace or plaster - plaster cast for 8 weeks
Will I have to have a later procedure to remove the screws - not unless they cause you problems
Will I be able to weight bear when I am on crutches - I could partially weight bear after 3 weeks and full weight bearing after 5 weeks
What will the scar look like - mine is about 4 inches long, right down the middle of my kneecap
Will I be able to bend my leg imediately post op - depends on if they cast you or just brace you
How much post op pain will i be in - as long as you take your pain meds regularly, shouldn't be too bad
Good luck.
Natalie.
Posted by Knee_Queen (Knee_Queen), 11 October 2004
Lucy,
Please talk to your OS again if you get the chance to clarify the situation- Unfortunately I did not and I'm four weeks post op after a TTT and don't have much of a clue about what went on in the op or what to expect from here- and thats not a nice feeling.
I live in the UK and my OS is very well known for knee surgery and has written books etc, however he is also very, very busy and works in several different hospitals each week (both private and NHS)- this has made it very difficult to get hold of him and ask all the questions I'd like to have answered. When we meet for appointments although very friendly he rushes in and out in 2/3 minutes and I feel that I can't ask too many questions.
I don't know the details of my TTT and so have no idea what type of procedure was done, I know that I have also had a second LR done at the same time but was also expecting VMO advancement and possibly procedure on femoral side of knee- I still don't have a clue as to why these have not been done though I'm sure there was a valid clinical reason.
I can only comment on my TTT experience- yours could be very different it really does depend on type of procedure performed and your medical team.
I stayed in hospital for 4 days as I needed additional fluid thereapy due to vomiting. Also Bp too low and sats dropping very low. Some difficulty getting on top of the pain in hospital mainly because nurses were not giving out pain meds as regularly as they should have so I was very glad to finally get home and take charge of pain relief myself!!! From what I've read of this site, many people tend to have TTT followed by a short stay in hospital (1 or two nights) but some even have theirs as a day case!
Once at home the pain meds had their own side effects and I was probably ready to return to work (on crutches and with cricket pad splint) after about three weeks. Unfortunately though, I'm an occupational therapist working in a forensic psychiatric hospital and will not be able to return to work probably until I'm 100% splintless and able to mobilise reasonably confidently.
As to how long I will be wearing this brace for I am a little unsure, but hopefully I will be getting rid of it soon or at least progressing on to a hinged splint!!! I have been told that screw/s will not have to come out unless they are causing a problem later on which is good news for me!
I was partially weight bearing with crutches day after surgery, would have been just a few hours after surgery if I wasn't being sick every 5 minutes or so!!!! Physio made sure I put as much weight through leg as I could comfortably bare and that normal gait pattern utilised. I'm four weeks post op and mobilising around house without crutches though still using them outside house for longer distances.
I have one vertical scar about 1 1/2 inches in length below knee and towards the lateral aspect. Its still slightly crusty but is healing much quicker now I have removed dressings etc. MY OS used dissolvable stiches so had no need to worry about having them pulled out! I still use 'limbo' (waterproof cast cover) for showering etc. Possibly will be bending my knee for the first time this friday, but who knows? - only my OS at the moment!!!
Post op pain for me was quite bad initially and I needed regular morphine/oromorph in hospital on top of other pain meds to keep on top of things. However I found the pain much easier to manage once I was home and could schedule doses when necessary. The meds though have their own side effects and I felt nauseus and drowsy for the first two weeks. Had stomach upset for almost a week after withdrawing from opoids altogether. My advice for what its worth would be if your significantly uncomfortable then take your pain meds, but come off them as soon as you feel able and use other natural ways to deal with pain such as relaxation instead!
Good luck!!!
Heidi
Updated Thu Apr 29 2010
