Deformity correction is a procedure to straighten a bone that is bent or twisted in a way that is not normal. After the bone is straightened, the arm, leg, or foot has normal alignment and function. Deformities can be corrected in two different ways:

An osteotomy is a surgical procedure to cut a bone. After the bone is cut, it may be lengthened, straightened, or shortened during the surgery (acutely) or gradually after the surgery. After the osteotomy, the surgeon may apply external fixation or insert internal fixation. At the International Center for Limb Lengthening, we perform osteotomies in the humerus (upper arm bone), radius/ulna (forearm), femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and in multiple foot bones.

Osteotomies can be described as opening wedge or closing wedge.

They also can be described by their shapes: straight, curved, U-shaped, etc. The choice/style of osteotomy depends on the specific goals of surgery.