Knee Osteotomy
Osteotomy realigns the leg so that body weight passes through the healthy side of the knee instead of the damaged one — relieving pain and buying years before a replacement is needed.
3D Animation (1:08)Watch how a knee osteotomy is performed
Watch. Understand. Feel Confident.
1:02Opening-Wedge Technique (Real Footage)
For medical professionals: the surgical technique of a knee osteotomy, step by step.
For Medical Professionals
1:16Recovery After Osteotomy
Bone healing, weight bearing progression, and when sport becomes possible again.
Joint Preserving
1–2 Nights Stay
60–90 Minutes
Sport CompatibleSurgical Steps (Overview)
Alignment Planning
Long-leg X-rays are used to calculate the correction precisely.
Approach
A small incision exposes the tibia or femur at the planned level.
Controlled Cut
The osteotomy is performed under image guidance, hinge preserved.
Correction
The wedge is opened or closed to the planned axis and verified.
Fixation
A low-profile locking plate holds the correction while bone heals.
Recovery Timeline (Step by Step)
Week 1–2Partial weight bearing on crutches · Swelling control · Motion exercises
Week 3–6Increasing load as bone healing allows · Cycling · Strengthening
Week 6–12Full weight bearing · Gait retraining · Progressive gym work
Month 3–6Running and impact activity reintroduced
Month 6–12Full sport · Plate removal only if it causes irritation*Early arthritis often affects one compartment only, usually the inner side of a bow-legged knee. Replacing the whole joint in an active patient is a big step; changing the mechanics is often the smarter one.
By moving the load line a few degrees, the worn compartment is unloaded and the healthy one takes over. For many active patients this means years of high-level activity with their own joint.
- Single-compartment arthritis with a matching leg deformity
- Younger, active patients wanting to keep their own joint
- Pain focused on the inner or outer side of the knee
- Combined with cartilage, meniscus or ligament surgery
- Long-leg X-raysThe correction is planned digitally to the degree
- Stop smokingNicotine markedly slows bone healing — this matters here
- Crutch trainingSix weeks of partial loading is normal; practise beforehand
- Home setupPlan for reduced mobility during the first weeks
An osteotomy is biomechanics, not implant surgery. Get the axis right and the patient keeps their own knee — often for a decade or more of sport. That is a trade worth making in a young, active patient.
Questions & Answers
Is osteotomy better than a partial replacement?
How long does the bone take to heal?
Will the plate be removed?
Can I play sport again?
Will my leg look different?
Can I still have a replacement later?
Note: This information is for general education only and should not replace a consultation with your doctor.
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