Correcting alignment to preserve your own knee
Where arthritis affects one part of the knee, realigning the leg can shift load away from the worn area and relieve pain – often delaying or avoiding replacement altogether. Mr Paul Jermin performs over 25 osteotomies each year, has contributed to national consensus guidance on the procedure & created and runs a yearly international course on complex osteotomies.
An osteotomy involves cutting and reshaping bone around the knee to correct its alignment. By redistributing load away from the worn part of the joint, this can significantly reduce pain and slow the progression of arthritis – often avoiding or delaying the need for knee replacement.
Mr Paul Jermin performs over 25 osteotomies each year and has been involved in producing national consensus guidance on the procedure. He has a particular interest in this technique for younger, active patients not yet suitable for joint replacement. He also created and runs an international course on complex osteotomies.
Common types include:
- High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO) – corrects varus (bow-legged) deformity where the inner compartment is overloaded
- Distal Femoral Osteotomy (DFO) – corrects valgus (knock-knee) deformity affecting the outer compartment
- Rotational Osteotomy – when people have torsional (twisting) deformities, can be performed in tibia or femur
Most patients return to activities within several months following a period of protected weight-bearing and physiotherapy.
- All types of osteotomy offered
Is this treatment for you?
Your Journey
Mr Jermin will examine your knee and your leg alignment, and discuss how your symptoms affect your daily life and activities.
Weight-bearing and full-length leg X-rays measure your alignment precisely and confirm (with MRI scan) which compartment is affected.
Mr Jermin will explain whether you are suitable for an osteotomy and tailor an individual treatment plan for you based on your symptoms & imaging.
The osteotomy is carried out at RJAH Oswestry (NHS) or Spire Yale Hospital, Wrexham (private), reshaping the bone and securing it in its corrected position.
A period of protected weight-bearing is followed by physiotherapy. Most patients return to activities within several months.
Mr Jermin
130
knee replacements per year
200
knee arthroscopies per year
30
ligament reconstructions per year
25
osteotomies per year
25
cartilage procedures per year
3
injection treatments offered
15
years of specialist knee experience
2
consultant hospital posts
Hospitals
