osteotomyis

Osteotomy is a surgical procedure in which bone is cut and realigned to correct deformity, change the bone’s angle or length, or relieve abnormal joint stresses. The term derives from Greek roots meaning bone and to cut. The correct plural form is osteotomies; the nonstandard form osteotomyis is not used in modern medical literature and is likely a typographical error.

Osteotomy techniques vary by goal and location. Common approaches include wedge osteotomies, which create a deliberate angular change by removing or adding a bone wedge (opening or closing wedge), and dome osteotomies, which provide a curved correction for complex deformities. Percutaneous or minimally invasive variants aim to reduce soft-tissue disruption. Fixation with plates, screws, or intramedullary devices is often used to stabilize the bone while healing.

Common sites include the knee and lower limb, such as high tibial osteotomy and distal femoral osteotomy, performed to realign the limb and redistribute load in conditions like unicompartmental or unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. Osteotomies are also used in the foot, hip, and jaw to correct angular deformities or to restore length or arch form.

Indications encompass deformity correction due to congenital conditions, trauma, or degenerative disease, limb-length discrepancies when shortening or lengthening is feasible, and preparation for arthroplasty. Recovery involves immobilization or bracing, progressive weight bearing, and physical therapy; healing times vary by site and patient factors.

Risks include infection, nonunion or delayed union, neurovascular injury, over- or undercorrection, and hardware-related complications. Alternatives include osteoclasis, joint-preserving procedures, or joint replacement, depending on context and goals.