Corrective supracondylar osteotomy for painful genu valgum

Fifty-three corrective supracondylar osteotomies were done in 46 patients who were limited by painful genu valgum. Relief was afforded when the surgery "unloaded" the lateral compartment, and this was accomplished when the anatomic axis of the femur was brought to an angle of 90 degree with the condylar line. A closing wedge osteotomy held by one staple was used in most cases. A method for computing the correction needed and for certifying this at surgery is discussed. The patients graded the results more favorably than the physicians did. The system of correction described has practical application in that guesswork is eliminated in the closing wedge osteotomy.