Distal femoral osteotomy for valgus deformity of the knee

Distal femoral varus osteotomy and blade-plate fixation for valgus deformity of the knee proved effective in restoring axial alignment in 18 of 36 knees (34 patients). Patients were followed for an average of 5.4 years (range: 2 to 19 years). The osteotomies were performed on 14 men and 22 women (average age: 44 years; range: 14 to 77). The patients' average preoperative valgus deformity of the anatomical axis was 19.4 degrees (range: 8 degrees to 33 degrees). The surgical procedures performed were a medial closing wedge osteotomy (14 knees) and a lateral opening wedge osteotomy with bone grafting (22 knees). Postoperative correction of the anatomical axis averaged 3.8 degrees valgus (range: 8 degrees varus to 20 degrees valgus). Maximum improvement was reached within 6.3 months by patients who were less than 60 years old and within 5.1 months by patients who were more than 60 years old. Pain decreased or resolved in 21 of 35 knees (60%); activity level improved in 24 of 35 knees (69%). One patient was unavailable for follow up evaluation. Varus osteotomy in the distal femur was concluded to be an acceptable form of treatment in the valgus knee alone or associated with traumatic or osteoarthritis of the lateral compartment.