Osteotomy

An osteotomy is a joint-preserving operation often recommended for younger, active patients with arthritis or damage affecting just one side of the knee. By carefully cutting and realigning the bone, the weight is shifted away from the worn area, reducing pressure and pain.

This approach can delay or even avoid the need for a knee replacement, while allowing patients to maintain high activity levels. Recovery takes a little longer than a simple arthroscopy, but the benefits can last many years, keeping your own natural joint working for as long as possible.

Osteotomy as Part of Joint Preservation

Osteotomy is one of several strategies designed to preserve the native joint and delay the need for replacement surgery. It is often considered alongside procedures such as:

• Cartilage restoration (arthroscopic techniques to repair or regenerate focal cartilage defects)
• Meniscal preservation (maintaining the “shock absorber” of the knee)
• Targeted physiotherapy (optimising joint mechanics and muscle strength to help in controlling pain)

By addressing alignment, cartilage health, and joint loading together, these treatments aim to give patients a longer period of pain-free function using their own joint. This approach is particularly beneficial for younger, active people who wish to remain mobile and avoid early joint replacement.