Failure of the correction of varus deformity obtained by high tibial osteotomy

Failure of the correction of varus deformity after high tibal osteotomy has been analysed in 99 knee joints. As this relapse occurred mainly after removal of the cast at 6 weeks, it is recommended that the patient should not load the affected leg without a cast until 10 weeks after the operation. No patient-linked factor was identified that might be considered to account for the failure of correction during union. There was a tendency for the valgus/varus deviation of the knee, as determined by the three-point technique, to drift in the varus direction. Between 3 and 24 months after the operation this drift was on average 1.1 degree.