Treatments
High Tibial Osteotomy in India
Quick answer
High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a knee-saving operation that reshapes the top of the shin bone to shift weight away from a worn part of the knee. It suits younger, active people with arthritis on one side of the knee, usually the inner side, and bow legs. It keeps your own joint and can delay or avoid knee replacement.
Medically reviewed by The Curaventa Team · Last updated 2026-10-27
At a glance
In many people with bow legs, body weight passes mostly through the inner half of the knee. Over time this side wears out while the outer side stays healthy. HTO corrects the leg's alignment so weight moves towards the healthier side.
The surgeon makes a controlled cut in the upper shin bone, then opens or closes a wedge to straighten the leg. A metal plate holds the bone until it heals. Because the natural joint is kept, there are fewer limits on sport and heavy work than after a replacement, but bone healing takes time.
Who needs high tibial osteotomy
- Younger or middle-aged adults with arthritis limited to the inner knee
- Bow-legged alignment (varus) seen on full-leg X-rays
- Active people who want to keep running, farming or manual work
- A stable knee with good movement and healthy outer cartilage
- People combining realignment with cartilage or ligament repair
How it is done
- Full-length standing X-rays measure leg alignment and plan the correction angle.
- Under spinal or general anaesthesia, a cut is made on the inner side of the upper shin.
- The bone is partly cut and gently opened (opening wedge) or a wedge is removed (closing wedge).
- The gap may be filled with bone graft or substitute and fixed with a locking plate.
- Knee arthroscopy may be done at the same time to treat cartilage or meniscus problems.
- X-rays confirm the new alignment before the wound is closed.
Before you travel to India
- Full-length standing X-rays of both legs, not just the knee
- MRI of the knee if available, to check cartilage on the other side
- A note on smoking, as it slows bone healing
- Crutches or a walker arranged for use after surgery
- Time off work for a gradual return to weight-bearing
Recovery and flying home
- Hospital stay is usually short, a few days
- Crutches are used for several weeks while the bone heals; weight-bearing increases step by step
- Most travelling patients stay in India around two weeks for wound check and X-ray
- Physiotherapy at home builds knee movement and thigh strength
- Follow-up X-rays at home confirm bone healing; the plate may be removed later if it bothers you
Risks
- Delayed or failed bone healing
- Over- or under-correction of alignment
- Fracture into the joint during surgery
- Blood clots, infection or nerve irritation
- Arthritis may progress later, leading to knee replacement
Alternatives
- Unloader knee brace and insoles
- Physiotherapy, weight loss and pain relief
- Partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement
- Total knee replacement for widespread arthritis
Conditions treated
Hospitals in India for high tibial osteotomy
- Medanta - The MedicityDelhi NCR
- AIG Hospitals, GachibowliHyderabad
- Aster MedcityKochi
- Artemis HospitalDelhi NCR
- Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research InstituteMumbai
- Indraprastha Apollo HospitalsDelhi NCR
- BLK-Max Super Speciality HospitalDelhi NCR
- Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, KolkataKolkata
- Continental HospitalsHyderabad
Specialists
Dr Ashok RajgopalMedanta - The Medicity
Dr Dinshaw PardiwalaKokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute- Dr Dasaradha Rama Reddy TetaliYashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda
- Dr Attique VasdevMedanta - The Medicity
- Dr Narayan HulseFortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road
- Dr Venuthurla Ram Mohan ReddyYashoda Hospitals, Hitec City
Frequently asked questions
Is high tibial osteotomy better than knee replacement?
They suit different people. HTO keeps your own knee and suits younger, active patients with one-sided wear. Replacement suits wider arthritis and is often chosen for older patients.
Can I have a knee replacement later after HTO?
Yes. A replacement can be done later if arthritis progresses. The surgeon plans the osteotomy with this in mind.
When can I put full weight on the leg?
This depends on the plate, the correction and your bone quality. Weight is usually increased step by step over several weeks. Follow your surgeon's plan and X-ray checks.
Will my leg look straighter?
Yes, a bow leg is usually visibly straighter. The goal is a specific alignment chosen to unload the knee, not a perfectly straight leg.
Medically reviewed by The Curaventa Team. Last updated 2026-10-27. General information, not medical advice. Medical editorial board · Editorial policy · How we get prices
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