Osteotomies around the knee

The concept of osteotomy has been around for thousands of years. Whilst the principles have not changed, practice has definitely evolved. Osteotomies around the knee have traditionally been used to treat unicompartmental osteoarthritis but they are now playing an important role in managing joint instability and are also being utilized in combination with cartilage regenerative procedures. To understand how this is possible, this article will outline and summarize the required mechanical principles for the different types of osteotomy around the knee. It will also provide a précis of both standard and novel operative techniques which are facilitating the revival of this procedure, allowing for an increased repertoire of indications and ultimately better patient outcomes.