Osteotomy
What is an osteotomy?
An osteotomy is a surgical procedure, carried out using general anaesthesia, that repairs damaged joints by cutting and reshaping the bones.
An osteotomy can be performed on the following joints:
- Knee
- Hip
- Spine
- Jaw
- Chin
- Big toe
Why is an osteotomy done?
An osteotomy will fix problems experienced in different bones and joints.
- Knee – if the kneecap is misaligned or damaged from arthritis then a knee osteotomy cuts either the tibia or femur to take pressure of the damaged knee joint.
- Hip – the hip socket is reshaped so that the socket aligns better with the ball of the joint.
- Spine – a wedge of spinal bone can be removed to improve a hunched back.
- Jaw – in misaligned jaws, a lower jaw osteotomy can reposition the jaw.
- Chin – an osteotomy can narrow a very square chin. Most often this is performed by plastic surgeons.
- Big toes – a wedge of bone is removed to prevent the big toe obstructing your other toes.
What does an osteotomy involve?
Due to the complexity of an osteotomy, a hospital stay will be required. General anaesthesia is used, meaning you are asleep during the operation. The surgeons makes an incision over the area of bone that is being remodelled. Using a special surgical saw, a section of bone will be removed. The cut edges of bone are then secured together with metal hardware or special bone grafts. For a bone graft, a wedge of bone is usually taken from the pelvis, and it is secured with metal hardware.
How do you prepare for an osteotomy?
Before surgery you won’t be able to eat or drink and certain medications will have to be stopped. You will receive special instructions from your specialist.
Aftercare following an osteotomy
You can expect to stay in hospital for a couple of nights. Depending on the type of osteotomy performed, crutches are likely to be needed for a couple of months. Full rehabilitation can take up to 6 months. In most cases, physical therapy exercises will be needed to help restore strength, stability and movement to the bones.
Alternatives to an osteotomy
An osteotomy is often an alternative to larger surgical procedures, such as hip and knee replacements which are serious operations with very lengthy recovery times, and often revision surgeries too. Discussing your treatment options with your specialist is essential in making a treatment decision.


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The pain endured from knee arthritis can prevent you from doing the things you want to in life. Expert orthopaedic surgeon Mr Minhal Chatoo chooses knee osteotomy to improve the symptoms, rather than replacing them fully by surgery. Here, he explains who is a good candidate and how the procedure works. See more


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If you are an active person but suffer from knee pain and stiffness, then the bilateral HTO procedure may be the right treatment for you. Mr Matt Dawson, a top orthopaedic surgeon specialising in sports injuries and degenerative conditions, explains more about this procedure and how it can help you. See more


Knee osteotomy: can I choose it over replacement surgery?
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Doing your research on treatment for knee arthritis? If you are not keen on having a knee joint replacement, you should ask your specialist about a knee osteotomy, or preservation surgery. Leading orthopaedic surgeon Mr David Elson explains more about both procedures and just who is suitable for osteotomy. See more


Bunions: What to expect from treatment and recovery
By Mr Shafic Al-Nammari
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Bunions can cause serious discomfort and can disrupt a patient's ability to take part in many types of physical activity. Fortunately, non-surgical treatment methods can be very effective in easing the troublesome symptoms. Leading consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Shafic Al-Nammari offers expert insight on both surgical and non-surgical treatment methods for bunions in this informative article. See more
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Mr Minhal Chatoo
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Osteotomy
- Knee surgery
- ACL reconstruction
- Knee arthroscopy
- Knee replacement
- Sports injuries
-
Mr Matt Dawson
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Joint preservation surgery
- Osteotomy
- Joint replacement
- Partial knee replacement
- Knee arthroscopy
- ACL reconstruction
-
Mr David Elson
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Osteotomy
- Knee arthroscopy
- Knee replacement
- Joint preservation surgery
- ACL reconstruction
- Meniscus
-
Mr Raghbir Khakha
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Sports injuries
- Joint preservation surgery
- Joint replacement
- Knee
- Paediatric orthopaedics
- Osteotomy
-
Professor Nima Heidari
Orthopaedic surgeryExpert in:
- Foot and ankle
- Limb lengthening
- Osteomyelitis
- Osteotomy
- Sports injuries
- Fracture
- See all

Orthopaedic Specialists
Orthopaedic Specialists
Harley Street Specialist Hospital, 18-22 Queen Anne Street, Marylebone, W1G 8HA
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Top Doctors
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Orthopaedic Specialists
Harley Street Specialist Hospital, 18-22 Queen Anne Street, Marylebone, W1G 8HA, W1G Marylebone LondonExpert in:
- Minimal access surgery (keyhole surgery)
- Joint preservation surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Sports Medicine
- Regenerative Medicine
- Joint replacement