Osteotomy: What You Need to Know

Osteotomy is one of the lesser-known joint procedures. Osteotomy is a surgical procedure that involves bone-cutting. The surgeon removes a wedge of bone located near the damaged joint. The procedure is supposed to cause a shift of weight from the area where there is cartilage damage to an area where there is more normal or healthy cartilage.

In osteoarthritis, damage is typically more significant on the inner portion of the knee. With knee osteotomy for osteoarthritis of the inner knee, the surgeon removes bone from the outside of the lower leg bone near the knee. As a result, the patient tilts their body weight towards the outer side and away from the inner damaged cartilage. If an osteotomy is performed for osteoarthritis of the outer knee, the procedure is reversed.

Are you a candidate for osteotomy? What are the benefits and risks of osteotomy? Read more in Osteotomy: What You Need to Know.

Related Resources:

• Osteoarthritis Treatments / Surgery
• The Cause of Knee Pain: Step-by-Step
• Osteotomy Visual: Tibial Osteotomy Series
• Test Your Knowledge: Types of Joint Surgery
• Knee Osteoarthritis: What You Need to Know

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