(ii) Osteotomy for osteoarthritis of the knee

Since the early nineties we have practiced a modern and relatively new technique in performing knee osteotomies based on a special dedicated system of instruments and plates. This opening wedge technique, when compared to Coventry's antivarus closing wedge osteotomy, inverts the method of correction, adding the wedge medially instead of removing it laterally; in case of valgus deformity osteotomy is carried out on the femoral side with a lateral opening wedge. Operative techniques of high tibial osteotomy and osteotomy of the distal femur will be illustrated with particular attention to all details of the two operations in 'step by step' descriptions.