Oblique osteotomy for multiplanar correction of malunions of the femoral shaft

Abstract

Between 1990 and 1996, six patients had oblique femoral osteotomies for symptomatic posttraumatic femoral malunions. In each patient, an oblique osteotomy was done that allowed for correction in the coronal, transverse, and sagittal planes. Fixation was achieved with lag screws supplemented by a neutralization plate. The average followup was 49 months (range, 18-99 months). All osteotomies healed at an average of 2.9 months (range, 2.5-4.0 months). Postoperatively, all patients had full range of motion in the ipsilateral hip and knee and could bear full weight without pain. Radiographically, the average deformity measured on anteroposterior radiographs improved from 21.6 degrees to 4.2 degrees varus. The average deformity on lateral radiographs improved from 22.5 degrees to 7.0 degrees antecurvatum. In all patients, the leg lengths were within 0.5 cm of each other and axial alignment was within 10 degrees of the contralateral limb. The use of an oblique osteotomy is a simple and predictable method of correcting complex posttraumatic femoral malunions and provides excellent surgical and clinical results.