Making sure the patient is a good candidate for surgery is important to help ensure a good outcome.

Typically the best candidates for knee osteotomy surgery:

  • Have mild to moderate arthritis affecting only one side of the knee and little to no damage on the other side
  • Are relatively young (40 to 60 years of age)
  • Are not overweight
  • Have good knee mobility
  • Have significant arthritis pain that is brought on by activity or standing for an extended period of time
  • Want to stay physically active and are willing to commit to a long post-surgical physical therapy regimen
  • Are able to use crutches and limit weight bearing for 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery
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People who elect to have osteotomy surgery tend to be physically active individuals who are motivated to stay active.

Other Surgical Options

Another surgical option for one-sided knee joint degeneration is partial knee replacement, also called unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. A partial knee replacement replaces just one side, or “compartment,” of the knee, and leaves the good side intact. (A total knee replacement replaces both the medial and lateral compartments, and often the knee cap surface.)

Learn about the different types of Knee Surgery for Arthritis

Occasionally, an osteotomy is done in conjunction with a partial or total knee replacement. A patient and orthopedic surgeon should discuss which, if any, surgery would provide the most pain relief and long-term benefit.

Dr. J. Dean Cole is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with more than 30 years of experience treating musculoskeletal issues, including traumatic injuries. He has designed several surgical instruments and implants for minimally invasive orthopedic surgeries and is widely respected for his approach to complex procedures such as deformity correction, bone infection treatment, calcaneal fractures, and nonunions and malunions.

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