NOTES - Surgical Procedures :
ROUX-GOLDTHWAIT PROCEDURE? - - Posted by marshwriggle (marshwriggle), 14 July 2003
I am due to have a procedure called a Roux-Goldthwait operation for a displaced patella and I was wondering if anyone on here had this done and what it was like and what it involvels and what I can expect please....I am due to have this done in the next few weeks
marshwriggle
Posted by admin (The KNEEguru), 15 July 2003
This review is really good:
http://www.patellapain.com/surgery.htm
There is a useful post on the old forum:
http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/forum4/messages/2546.html
This overview article gives an academic reference, which you could obtain from a library:
http://www.posna.org/CoreCurriculum/Book4/Patellofemoral%20pain%20syndrome.pdf
Posted by marshwriggle (marshwriggle), 16 July 2003
thanks for those links 
do you know what the length of recovery from an operation like this is?
marshwriggle
Posted by gezzyf (gezzyf), 14 August 2003
Hi there
you have probably had the op now so hope it went well. I had the Roux Goldthwaite last December after about 15 years of knee pain and no real diagnosis of the problem. Finally started to get some answers in the last year or so which led to the op last Christmas.
It was quite tough in the first month or two. I spent three weeks completely immobilised and then three more with a "backslab" on which I took off 4/5 times a day to start doing exercises. After that it was and still is still a slow journey back to full strength but very little pain since the first few weeks..which is great! I was on crutches (two moving quite quickly down to one) for about a month or so after the back slab went
I have been having pretty intensive physio for the last 8 months to build up muscle strength and it is going well, although it is hard work for a "non gym" type like me.
It is still not back to normal, although normal was not great anyway, but I do feel a difference and the grinding of the knee has stopped and pain definitely better.. it just feels week and sometimes gives way when walking quickly..however the giving way is nothing like before (twisting, severe pain and a week recovering) it just feels a bit wobbly and weak and there is no real pain after it...
I now have to have the other knee done, as soon as this one is strong enough and I would not hesitate in doing so as so far I can see an improvement
stick with it as it does get better after the first few weeks..
let me know how your recovery is going as I would be interested in hearing other people's experiences...you don't hear of many people generally having this...
Posted by marshwriggle (marshwriggle), 18 August 2003
hi gezzy,
I have not had the operation yet I am due to have it on sept 8th. I dont know anyone apart from u and one other person on this forum who has had this operation? when u say completley imoblised do u mean u were not able to get around at all even on crutches for the first 3 weeks? how long will u be in hospital? I am going in on sept 7th the op is on the 8th and my surgeon says its only an overnight stay so I hope to be out on the 9th?
anna
Posted by gezzyf (gezzyf), 20 August 2003
Anna
I was able to get round on crutches, but had a plaster from mid/top thigh to ankle so was a bit of a struggle mainly because it was heavy. As I am quite tall this also meant I couldn't get in the front seat of a car so I had to (very comically for my family) sit in the back with the leg stretched out. My biggest problem was that at the time I lived in a flat with three flights of stairs, some wobbly and without bannisters and I felt very nervous going down in particular without anyone with me
I had the op on a tues morning and got out of hospital fri evening, although I prob should have got out earlier to be honest. I was on a lot of pain killers in the hospital and when I came out and I don't think the combination of the anathasthetic and this really agreed with me, so was very sick and woozy, so maybe that was I was in a little longer
another thing which might be different in your case to time in plaster was that I had the op just before christmas and my first check up was not until the new year...I guess they might have had me out of plaster sooner if christmas/new year had not got in the way!!
let me know if you would like to know anything else and good luck
Posted by marshwriggle (marshwriggle), 20 August 2003
[b][/b] HIya gezzy thanks for your reply 
ah so I will at least be able to get around on crutches my surgeon says that I will be in plaster for 7 to 8 weeks. Should I be expecting a lot of pain when I come out of the anestethic? I am 5 foot 1 inch 
are u in the UK?
anna
Posted by gezzyf (gezzyf), 4 September 2003
sorry for delay..have been away
the most pain was in the first week really, but they managed it quite well with painkillers (morphine button I could press when required, and other tablets evry few hours) in the hospital. it was quite painful from time to time after I got out but mainly aching at night and so on..again I was armed with plenty of painkillers so managed ok
really since the plaster came off I have had very little pain which is great
i was only in full plaster for three/four weeks, but then had a backslab (which was effectively the back half of the plaster, bandaged on). I had to take this on and off to do the first bit of physio. I think the aim was to bend the knee to 90 degrees which I managed after 3 weeks and do some gentle strengthening. It was strange at first as I could not bend it at all which is scary, but little by little it does move and eventually you get there..
yes am in the uk. had the operation done at the royal free in london
Posted by marshwriggle (marshwriggle), 5 September 2003
hi again gezzy,
before your op did your surgeon tell you that you would only be in full plaster for 3 to 4 weeks and then a back slab? cause my surgeon has not mentioned this all he said was 7 to 8 weeks in a plaster cast?
marshwriggle
Posted by gezzyf (gezzyf), 10 September 2003
hi there
I actually don't remember what he said to me, although I do remember him saying I would probably be off work for about 6 weeks - which was about right. I also remember one of the nurses in orthapedics telling me that I would have a leg brace (which I didn't in the end) I think I may have slight "white coat syndrome" in that I find it very difficult to take in what doctors are telling me. To be honest I wasn't sure what to expect when I went in to have the surgery, and I suspect different surgeons take different approaches
I was quite relieved to get the plaster off, but I had to keep the back slab on at all times when I wasn't doing the physio exercises, even at night, so it was still a half way house to being back to normal
hope it all goes well
gezzy
Posted by ruthy007 (ruthy007), 1 March 2004
Hi there
Just found your messages now but this may help you anyway....
I had Roux-Goldthwaite + LR + medial reefing surgery 7 months ago and all was going pretty well. Did 2 gym including leg extensions and that caused a few issues. Patella has now started clicking pretty badly-like it was before surgery and that's got me a bit worried! This op takes a hell of a lot of rehab which I am only starting to realise now. I don't seem to be getting anywhere as progress is slow but improvement is happening. The pain wasn't very bad at the start but the more you push the joint in the gym, the more it hurts as there is some pretty major strain going thru it but it's the only way to rebuild your muscles (VERY important!). You have to 'listen' to it and not push too hard or you can be back to square one.
So, let me know how you're going now. I really hope it's been a success and you're flying!
All the best
Ruth
Posted by gezzyf (gezzyf), 8 March 2004
Hi there
I am just about to go back to get my other knee operated on (Roux Goldthwaite) having had the first knee done last December. Am still quite positive and think that having the operation will be better than leaving as is. My operated knee had not dislocated at all since I had it done and the other still has a tendency to pop out, so all in all have decided to get it done. The operated knee is still weak and I completely agree with the view that it takes a lot of rehab (at least an hour 3/4 times a week at the gym doing solely knee work). I think it will take years to build up the muscle completely again, especially when I have my other knee operated on. I am having to build up from years and years of muscle waste. Would like to hear how others are progressing??
Posted by gezzyf (gezzyf), 21 April 2004
Hi
Am now 3 weeks post op (Roux Goldthwaite on the other knee). It has gone slightly differently this time and I feel it has been much better. I have had a leg brace rather than plaster (which is less uncomfortable) and pain has not been too bad at all. I spent less time in hospital and have been much more mobile. Not sure why , although it could be that all the rehab and gym work I did post the last op has strengthened this leg so it can withstand better. Have started physio now and aim to get bent to 90degrees in next three weeks. I know its going to be a long slog ahead now, but still positive and good to hear that (on the whole) people are happy with the results
Updated Sat Nov 21 2009
