[Shortening osteotomy of the femur after knee joint exarticulation]

Our experience with two patients is used as a basis to describe a method of creating a weight-bearing amputation stump after exarticulation of the knee joint in trauma patients who have insufficient soft tissue. Osteotomy is performed to shorten the length of the femur, and in this way sufficient soft tissue becomes available to cover the femoral condyles so that a weight-bearing amputation stump can be created and femoral amputation is prevented. A major advantage of this method is that the joint of the prosthesis can be positioned at exactly the same level as the contralateral healthy joint.