Treatments
Osteotomy in India
Quick answer
An osteotomy is surgery that cuts a bone and resets it at a better angle to correct deformity or shift weight away from a worn part of a joint. It is often used around the knee in active adults with arthritis on one side, to delay a joint replacement. The bone then heals in its new position, held by a plate or screws.
Medically reviewed by The Curaventa Team · Last updated 2026-10-27
At a glance
Bones can be bowed, twisted or tilted from birth, growth problems or old fractures. These shapes can overload one part of a joint and wear it out early. By changing the angle of the bone, an osteotomy moves the load onto healthier cartilage.
The most common types are high tibial osteotomy (just below the knee) for bow legs, and distal femoral osteotomy (just above the knee) for knock knees. Osteotomies are also done in the hip, ankle and arm. Unlike a replacement, your own joint is kept, so there are fewer limits on activity later.
Who needs osteotomy
- Younger, active adults with arthritis on only one side of the knee
- Bow legs or knock knees causing pain or joint wear
- Bones that healed crooked after a fracture (malunion)
- Children or adults with deformities from rickets, Blount disease or growth plate injury
- Knee ligament reconstruction where bone alignment also needs correction
How it is done
- Full-length standing X-rays measure the leg's alignment; CT may be used for rotation.
- The surgeon calculates the exact angle of correction needed.
- Under anaesthesia, the bone is cut in a controlled way.
- A wedge is opened or closed to reach the planned angle; bone graft may fill gaps.
- A plate and screws, or an external frame, hold the bone while it heals.
- Physiotherapy starts soon after, with limits on weight-bearing.
Before you travel to India
- Full-length standing leg X-rays, if you have them
- MRI of the knee or joint showing cartilage condition
- Any earlier fracture or surgery records
- Plan to bring someone who can help you while on crutches
Recovery and flying home
- Hospital stay is usually short, a few days
- Crutches are needed for several weeks while the bone heals
- Stay in India for the wound check and first follow-up X-ray before flying
- Blood-thinning medicine may be advised for travel
- Physiotherapy continues at home, with X-rays sent to your surgeon
- Plates are sometimes removed later in a minor operation
Risks
- Bone healing slowly or not at all
- Under- or over-correction of the angle
- Infection or wound problems
- Blood clots
- Nerve or blood vessel injury, which is rare
- Later need for joint replacement if arthritis progresses
Alternatives
- Unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement
- Total knee or hip replacement
- Bracing, weight loss and physiotherapy
- Injections for symptom relief
Conditions treated
Hospitals in India for 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
Why choose an osteotomy instead of a knee replacement?
An osteotomy keeps your own joint and allows heavy activity later. It suits younger, active people with damage on one side. A replacement is often better for older patients with widespread wear.
Can I still have a knee replacement later?
Yes. An osteotomy can buy time, and a replacement can be done later if needed. The surgeon plans the osteotomy with this in mind.
How soon can I walk after an osteotomy?
You walk with crutches soon after surgery, putting limited weight through the leg. Full weight usually follows once X-rays show healing. This takes longer than recovery from a replacement.
Will my leg look straighter?
Usually yes, since the bone angle is corrected. The main aim is to protect the joint, but appearance often improves too.
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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