Both an Unloader Knee Brace and a High Tibial Osteotomy aim to unload the affected compartment of the knee. An osteotomy does this on a permanent basis through the realignment of the bones, an Unloader does this by applying an external force and can be adjusted to suit. An unloader cannot correct as much as an osteotomy but comes with significantly less risks.
Unloaders can be used prior to osteotomies and can help to delay the need for one. Some surgeons place all of their osteotomy patients in an unloader prior to surgery.
This makes sense as it is a way to "try before you buy" and approximates the effects of the surgery.
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