A surgeon discussing Knee Osteotomy Surgery options with a patient in Florida
Treatment/Treatment Details

Knee Osteotomy Surgery

Knee osteotomy realigns the knee to shift weight away from damaged cartilage, preserving the joint and delaying the need for replacement.

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Joint-Preserving Realignment for Knee Arthritis

Knee Osteotomy is a joint-preserving procedure that realigns the knee to shift weight away from damaged cartilage to healthier areas of the joint. This procedure is particularly valuable for younger, active patients with knee arthritis limited to one side of the knee who want to preserve their natural joint and delay or avoid joint replacement.

The most common type is high tibial osteotomy (HTO), which involves cutting and realigning the shinbone (tibia) to correct malalignment and redistribute weight. By shifting the load to healthier cartilage, the procedure can relieve pain, slow arthritis progression, and preserve the joint for many years.

At Mountain Spine & Orthopedics, our knee specialists carefully evaluate each patient to determine if osteotomy is appropriate, considering factors like age, activity level, extent of arthritis, and knee alignment. This minimally invasive approach can provide excellent outcomes for the right candidates.

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Ideal Candidates for Knee Osteotomy

  • Young, active patients (typically under 60) with knee arthritis limited to one compartment
  • Those with knee malalignment (bow-legs or knock-knees) contributing to arthritis
  • Individuals who want to preserve their natural joint and delay replacement
  • Patients with good range of motion and minimal knee stiffness
  • Those without significant knee instability
  • Athletes or active individuals who want to maintain higher activity levels
  • Patients willing to commit to the rehabilitation process

What Conditions does Knee Osteotomy Surgery Help Ease?

This procedure may help with:

OsteoarthritisACL InjuryTorn MeniscusKnee PainKnee ArthritisPCL Tear
Knee osteotomy realigning the knee joint

The Osteotomy Process

  1. An incision is made to access the bone (typically the tibia)
  2. A precise cut (osteotomy) is made in the bone
  3. The bone is realigned to correct the malalignment
  4. The bone is secured in the new position with plates and screws
  5. The alignment is verified with X-rays
  6. The incision is closed and the patient begins rehabilitation

Benefits of Knee Osteotomy Surgery

  • Preserves the natural knee joint
  • Shifts weight away from damaged cartilage
  • Relieves pain and slows arthritis progression
  • May delay or avoid the need for joint replacement
  • Allows return to higher-impact activities
  • Maintains more natural knee function

Recovery After Osteotomy

Recovery Timeline: 3-6 Months for Full Recovery

Recovery from knee osteotomy requires careful protection of the healing bone. Patients typically use crutches for 6-12 weeks to allow the bone to heal in its new position.

Phase 1 (Weeks 1-6): Protected weight-bearing with crutches, range of motion exercises, and control of swelling. The bone needs time to heal in its new position.

Phase 2 (Weeks 6-12): Gradual progression to full weight-bearing as healing is confirmed on X-rays, continued range of motion exercises, and initiation of strengthening.

Phase 3 (Months 3-4): Full weight-bearing, advanced strengthening, and return to most daily activities.

Phase 4 (Months 4-6): Return to higher-impact activities and sports based on healing confirmation and strength milestones. Full recovery typically occurs at 4-6 months.

Related Knee Treatments

Explore other knee treatment options:

Total Knee Replacement SurgeryArthroscopic Knee SurgeryMeniscus Repair SurgeryACL Reconstruction SurgeryPartial Knee Replacement SurgeryMeniscus Surgery (Meniscectomy)Knee Ligament Repair SurgeryPCL Reconstruction Surgery

Frequently Asked Questions

What is knee osteotomy?

Knee osteotomy is a bone-cutting procedure that realigns the leg to shift weight away from the damaged knee compartment. High tibial osteotomy (HTO) treats medial arthritis in bow-legged patients. Distal femoral osteotomy treats lateral arthritis in knock-kneed patients.

Who is a candidate for knee osteotomy?

Ideal candidates are young, active patients (<60) with isolated compartment arthritis, malalignment (varus or valgus), intact opposite compartment, stable ligaments, and good range of motion. It delays need for knee replacement by 10+ years.

What is the recovery time for knee osteotomy?

Recovery takes 3 to 6 months for return to activities. Patients use crutches with protected weight-bearing for 6-8 weeks until bone healing. Full weight-bearing resumes at 8-12 weeks. Return to sports requires 6-9 months with complete rehabilitation.

How long does a knee osteotomy last?

Survival rates are 80-90% at 10 years and 60-70% at 15 years for appropriately selected patients. Success depends on proper patient selection, accurate correction, and activity modification. Eventually, most patients require knee replacement as arthritis progresses.

What are the advantages of osteotomy over knee replacement?

Osteotomy preserves the native knee joint, allows higher-impact activities, has no implant to wear out, and maintains options for future knee replacement. Ideal for young, active patients wanting to delay replacement. However, recovery is longer than replacement.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Young and active with knee arthritis? Our knee specialists offer knee osteotomy as a joint-preserving option. Schedule a consultation with Mountain Spine & Orthopedics today. Same-day and next-day appointments are often available.

Locations Offering Evaluation

Our board-certified specialists offer knee osteotomy surgery evaluation and treatment at locations across Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Schedule a consultation at a clinic near you.

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