An osteotomy is a surgery that cuts away slivers of bone in order to reshape them. It can also be used to shorten or lengthen bones to fix related joint problems. Osteotomies are typically used to treat damaged joints and resolve dislocations through reduction. Osteotomy has the potential to be a complex surgical procedure. First, a skin incision will provide access to the bone, which is measured using special guide wires. The section of bone is then removed with a saw, leaving a space in the joint. This space is filled either with a bone graft or a metal plate that holds the two bones ends together to heal.
Reviewed byProf Paul Lee MBBch, FRCS (Tr & Orth), PhDLast reviewed 1 May 2026
Osteotomy reshapes bone alignment to redistribute load across the joint. It is often considered when malalignment is driving pain and cartilage overload.
For active patients with focal wear and alignment issues, osteotomy can be a joint-preserving alternative to early replacement.
Osteotomy outcomes depend on precise correction planning and disciplined rehabilitation. At London Cartilage Clinic, we use specialist imaging and alignment analysis to define the exact target.
Our aim is durable alignment correction, reduced pain, and confident return to normal activity with lower risk of future overload.
You may have more options than you think
At London Cartilage Clinic we follow a structured clinical framework across four areas of treatment. Before recommending a single procedure, we assess which combination of approaches gives you the best outcome.
Protect what you have. Slow degeneration and manage symptoms.
Fix specific damage. Torn tissue, unstable joints, structural problems.
Rebuild lost tissue. Biological treatments that stimulate new growth.
When other options are exhausted. Joint replacement as a last resort.
Explore the full range of treatments available for your joint. Each hub page shows every option we offer, organised by clinical approach.
Osteotomies are not only reserved for people who are old or suffering from an affliction. Anyone can suffer an injury or develop a condition that causes weakness in a crucial bodily joint. As such, anyone can have an osteotomy to resolve joint pain and restore joint stability.
Osteotomies can be considered a major surgery. This is because the range of osteotomies that can be performed each come with risks that are unique to that procedure. Common risks of an osteotomy can be blood clots, infection, nerve damage, scar tissue. Your surgeon will discuss all the risks of the procedure beforehand.
Patients who have undergone a knee osteotomy will typically be back walking again after 8-12 weeks, although it can take as long as six months to make a full recovery. This will depend on factors such as patient health, age, and the severity of the joint damage that needed treating. Certain osteotomy surgeries will have longer recovery periods associated with them as well.
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