Is there a surgery just to remove bone spurs at the back of the knee?

[yangyang]

I have a bone spur right at the joint line level (on Tibial plateau), posterior medial corner of knee (visible on both MRI and Xray).

Is there a surgery that goes in behind the knee to remove such spurs? It feels like its really irritating the muscles and tendons back there.

[vickster]

You can have them shaved away but there can be some risks if there are nerves near by (I have a 1cm exostosis on the fibula near the peroneal nerve but have left well alone even though it’s an easy surgery as it would be open surgery with a significant risk of nerve damage and foot drop)

See a knee surgeon, get a CT scan for more detail and understand if it can be done, and how, keyhole or open and the risk vs benefit

It may not be something they’ll do via public health (depending on your country) so may have to pay

Is it congenital or the result of arthritis? I’ve had arthritic ones smoothed down in the intercondylar notch

[yangyang]

It may not be something they’ll do via public health (depending on your country) so may have to pay
Is it congenital or the result of arthritis? I’ve had arthritic ones smoothed down in the intercondylar notch

I live in Australia so its not a big problem in terms of money, even if I have to pay. Its the result of arthritis.

When you had the ones in your intercondular notch shaved down, was it because they were pushing against your ACL/PCL?  What did that feel like, sharp pain?  I imagine they could have done that through keyhole, wheras mine I cant see that being possible as its right at the back of the knee on the tibial plateau.

Thanks for your reply.

[vickster]

To be honest I wasn’t specifically aware of that damage. They were shaved during a more comprehensive clean up of my arthritic knee.

I can certainly be aware of the one on the fibula and have to avoid any deep tissue massage to the area

You’d be best of talking to a specialist knee surgeon and get advice on the feasibility and advisability of removal (especially if open surgery is needed).