An osteotomy is a surgical operation whereby a bone is cut to shorten or lengthen it or to change its alignment. It is sometimes performed to correct a hallux valgus, or to straighten a bone that has healed crookedly following a fracture. It is also used to correct a coxa vara, genu valgum, and genu varum.

What does the term osteotomy mean?

An osteotomy is any surgery that cuts and reshapes your bones. ... It's also used to shorten or lengthen a deformed bone that doesn't line up with a joint like it should.

What does an osteotomy involve?

Osteotomy literally means "cutting of the bone." In a knee osteotomy, either the tibia (shinbone) or femur (thighbone) is cut and then reshaped to relieve pressure on the knee joint.