What is osteotomy?

Osteotomy is an appropriate surgical option in selected cases of arthritis affecting one side of the knee only. The purpose of osteotomy is to transfer the load to an uninvolved joint surface. Osteotomy is most commonly performed for patients where the weight-bearing surfaces of the knee joint become worn away on one side. The affected side of the joint is no longer smooth and free running, and this leads to stiffness and pain. In this situation, high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is performed. It should be stressed that this surgery is designed to allow patients to walk without discomfort, not to return them to sporting activities. If adequate correction is achieved, the success rate of high tibial osteotomy at this practice is 91% at the 5 years and 80% at 10 years. Those patients who fail to achieve such long-term relief usually obtain at least a few years of relief and are then eligible for joint replacement. Osteotomy is strongly recommended for a middle-aged patient with osteoarthritis. If the patient is nearing the age of 60, it is worth considering continuing with conservatives measures for as long as possible so that when complete deterioration of the joint has occurred, joint replacement may be performed.An osteoarthritic knee in a young patient is a complex problem to manage. Only certain patients will respond well to osteotomy; therefore, Dr Sundaraj will carefully consider whether you are a likely successful candidate. Some patients can be successfully managed with conservative means, but for the middle-aged patient, this may lead to early joint replacement as an osteotomy is most successful when performed during the early stages of osteoarthritis.