Oblique tibial osteotomy for Blount's disease (tibia vara)

Nine oblique proximal tibial osteotomies were performed on six children with genu varum, all but one of whom had Blount's disease. The osteotomy was a single-plane cut allowing simultaneous correction of varus and internal rotation and permitting postoperative cast wedging if necessary to improve position. All osteotomies healed within 10 weeks. The major complications were three episodes of weakness of the extensor hallucis longus, two of which resolved in 4 days and one of which resolved only partially. We were able to combine the osteotomy with other procedures, such as epiphyseal bar resection. All nine osteotomies achieved the desired correction of deformity.