Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease, characterized by progressive wearing away of the cartilage of the joint. As the protective cartilage is worn away by knee arthritis, for example, bare bone is exposed within the joint.

In the case of arthritis surgery, or osteotomy, the procedure shifts the weight-bearing forces to "unload" the worn out side of the joint, and place the forces on the healthier side of the joint. Good candidates for this surgery must fit the following criteria:
• Significant pain and disability
• X-rays showing involvement of only one side of the knee joint
• The ability to cooperate with physical therapy and rehabilitation

The ideal patient for a knee osteotomy is a young, active person, who has arthritis limited to one side of the knee joint. The patient must have significant pain and disability such that surgery is warranted. The patient must understand that rehabilitation from this surgery is lengthy and difficult. Finally, osteotomies around the knee, tend to last less than one decade--then something more, usually a knee replacement, needs to be done. Some patients may find lasting relief with an osteotomy, but the majority of patients use a knee osteotomy surgery as a means to delay eventual knee replacement surgery.