The angle-measuring device, a practical resource in high tibial osteotomy

Thirty-two patients with medial gonarthrosis were subjected to high tibial osteotomy. In 16 knees the base of the osteotomy wedge was measured in mm using a caliper and in another 16 knees the angle-measuring device was used. The miscorrection in correlation to the aimed angle was in the first case 0.2 +/- 4.7 degrees, and in the second case 2.4 +/- 4.1 degrees varus undercorrection. The possible sources of error according to measurement of mechanical axis deviation angle of the knee, angle-measuring device and wedge measuring technique during surgery as well as laxity of knee and age-correlated need of overcorrection are pointed out. The angle-measuring device is an important tool especially in high tibial osteotomy of the knee.