Exposure of the hip by osteotomy of the anterior part of the greater trochanter is described. This maintains the continuity of the tendinous junction between the anterior half of gluteus medius and the vastus lateralis and preserves intact the insertion of gluteus minimus into the anterior surface of the trochanter. The nerve supply to these muscles is not compromised and good abductor function is retained. The approach can be extracapsular or intracapsular. Reattachment of the osteotomised fragment is simple, and upward displacement after operation, as sometimes seen after complete osteotomy of the greater trochanter, cannot occur

We conducted a prospective randomised trial to compare the results of anatomical reduction and medial displacement osteotomy in 127 consecutive patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures, of whom 109 completed the study. After an average follow-up of 11 months, we found no significant differences in walking ability, social status or failure of fixation in the two groups. Postoperative complication rates and the early mortality rate were not significantly different, but operating time and blood loss were significantly higher in the osteotomy group. With the use of modern sliding hip screws, medial displacement osteotomy is rarely indicated for unstable intertrochanteric fractures

1. The results are presented of upper tibial osteotomy carried out in ten patients for osteoarthritis of the knee associated with lateral deformity. 2. The operation is indicated when there is severe pain, valgus or varus deformity, and a range of flexion of at least 90 degrees. 3. In every case pain has been relieved, and recovery of movement after operation has been easy

We treated 13 patients who had a fixed valgus deformity of the knee with a semiconstrained total knee arthroplasty combined with advancement of the lateral collateral ligament by means of a lateral femoral condylar sliding osteotomy. At follow-up of between one and 6.5 years all patients were assessed using the Knee Society score. The mean knee score improved from 32 to 88 and the functional score from 45 to 73. The mean tibiofemoral angle was corrected from 191° to 180°. There was no postoperative tibiofemoral or patellar instability and, in most knees, distal transposition of the lateral femoral condyle achieved satisfactory stable alignment

We have previously described a simple and reproducible three-dimensional technique of CT for the measurement of the cover of the femoral head in acetabular dysplasia in adults. We now describe the application of this technique in ten patients with symptomatic dysplasia to assess the degree and direction of dysplasia and to measure the cover obtained at acetabular osteotomy. The indices obtained gave a useful indication of the degree and direction of the dysplasia and confirmed which components had been used most efficiently to achieve cover. The information is easily presented in graphical form and gives a clearer indication of the cover obtained than the indices derived from plain radiographs

Of 24 intertrochanteric osteotomies for avascular necrosis of the femoral head, 22 were followed up for an average of 63 months. Sixteen of the 22 cases had good or excellent results, including 5 of the 6 cases with Stage II disease and 11 of the 16 with Stage III changes. Success seemed to be inversely related to the size of the lesion. There were six major orthopaedic complications, but despite these we feel that the operation has a definite role in the treatment of the young active patient

There are no recent studies comparing cable with wire for the fixation of osteotomies or fractures in total hip replacement (THR). Our objective was to evaluate the five-year clinical and radiological outcomes and complication rates of the two techniques. We undertook a review including all primary and revision THRs performed in one hospital between 1996 and 2005 using cable or wire fixation. Clinical and radiological evaluation was performed five years post-operatively. Cables were used in 51 THRs and wires in 126, and of these, 36 THRs with cable (71%) and 101 with wire (80%) were evaluated at follow-up. The five-year radiographs available for 33 cable and 91 wire THRs revealed rates of breakage of fixation of 12 of 33 (36%) and 42 of 91 (46%), respectively. With cable there was a significantly higher risk of metal debris (68% vs 9%; adjusted relative risk (RR) 6.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.0 to 14.1), nonunion (36% vs 21%; adjusted RR 2.0; 95% CI 1.0 to 3.9) and osteolysis around the material, acetabulum or femur (61% vs 19%; adjusted RR 3.9; 95% CI 2.3 to 6.5). Cable breakage increased the risk of osteolysis to 83%. There was a trend towards foreign-body reaction and increased infection with cables. Clinical results did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, we found a higher incidence of complications and a trend towards increased infection and foreign-body reaction with the use of cables

A radiological review of two groups of intertrochanteric osteotomies of the femur for primary osteoarthritis of the hip has been made. Each group originally consisted of forty-one hips. In one group a Wainwright straight V-spline without compression had been used for fixation, and In the other group an AO angled plate with compression. The time for bony union was equal in the two groups but the incidence of non-union was lower in the AO group. Regression of cysts and of bone sclerosis was more frequent in the Wainwrlght group, possibly as a consequence of the greater medial displacement and varus angulation

Weakness of dorsiflexion of the foot is a common complication of proximal tibial osteotomy and it has been suggested that this may be caused by an anterior tibial compartment syndrome. A prospective study of 20 patients undergoing tibial osteotomy was undertaken, in which compartment pressures were recorded and related to clinical signs. In 10 of the patients, the operation site was drained, and in 10 no drainage was employed. The undrained group showed significant elevation (greater than 45 mmHg) of the anterior compartment pressure in seven patients, and five of these had transient clinical signs. Only one patient had any permanent deficit, a minor asymptomatic weakness of extensor hallucis longus. In the drained group the pressures remained below 30 mmHg in all except two patients, who both had only a minor pressure rise and no significant early clinical signs. However, two patients from this group later developed weakness of dorsiflexion, probably due to common peroneal nerve injury, the cause of which is not clear

Coxa valga may sometimes occur as a complication of varus osteotomy for congenital dislocation of the hip. Six such cases are described with a minimum follow-up of nine years. In three cases the varus osteotomy had been performed on only one side; in one case it was done on both sides and coxa valga developed bilaterally; and in two further bilateral cases coxa valga developed on one side only. In each case the coxa valga was sub-capital. Detailed radiographic analysis included measurements of neck-shaft angle, acetabular angle and C.E. angle. The epiphysis-shaft angle is described; it is an index of the constant tendency of the capital epiphysis to assume a horizontal position. The cause remains unknown, but damage to the trochanteric growth plate or to the lateral part of the capital growth plate could not be identified as aetiological factors. Poor acetabular cover was considered a possible factor. All the patients in this series had functionally excellent hips, but the long-term prognosis of the hips with partly uncovered femoral heads is doubtful

We have investigated the effect of currents induced by electromagnetic fields on the healing of the tibia of sheep after osteotomy, using objective and quantifiable criteria wherever possible. A battery-powered, induction apparatus was developed and was enclosed within the cast applied to the limb, so that the treated fractures received pulsed magnetic fields for 24 hours a day while the animals were freely mobile. In all, 13 sheep were treated and 13 were used as controls. The response was assessed by radiography of the limb and of the excised bone, by histology, including measurement of the areas of callus, fibrocallus and cortical bone, and by measurement of the uptake and extraction of bone-seeking mineral. All the bones healed and no statistically significant differences between the treated animals and the controls were discovered except (at only P less than 0.05) in the uptake of bone-seeking mineral; this increased more rapidly in treated animals over the two to three weeks after osteotomy, although at six weeks the uptake in both groups was the same

We performed basal chevron metatarsal osteotomy on 32 feet (31 patients) for painful hallux valgus associated with an increased intermetatarsal 1/2 angle (> 12 degrees). Pedobarographic and radiological examinations were done preoperatively and at a minimum of six months postoperatively. The average hallux valgus angle was improved from 40.9 degrees to 19.2 degrees and the intermetatarsal 1/2 angle from 16.5 degrees to 6.8 degrees. The mean angle of declination of the first metatarsal was decreased by 1.4 degrees. The pedobarographs showed a significant reduction in areas sustaining pressure > 5 kg/cm2, an increased total foot contact area and a higher percentage forefoot contact area on heel raise. There was a high level of patient satisfaction with relief of symptoms and improved appearance of the foot

We reviewed 236 of the 388 Chiari pelvic osteotomies performed between 1953 and 1967 at the Orthopaedic University Clinic of Vienna for the treatment of congenital dislocation and subluxation of the hip. Over 90% of the operations were performed by Chiari himself. Twenty-one hips had needed reoperation after an average of 15.4 years; the other 215 hips had been followed up for 20 to 34 years (mean 24.8). The overall clinical results were excellent or good in 51.4%, fair in 29.8% and poor in 18.3%. The results were worse with increasing age at operation. The Trendelenburg sign improved only in patients aged seven or less at operation, and range of movement decreased in all cases. Subjectively poor results were seen in patients with pre-operative signs of osteoarthritis. Radiological loss of correction during follow-up was seen only in cases with incomplete primary correction. The addition of an intertrochanteric varus osteotomy in 36 cases did not achieve either better centering or better development of the acetabular roof. Degenerative changes increased significantly during the long-term follow-up, but their progress seemed to have been slowed down by the osteotomy in the younger age groups. Indications and contra-indications for the operation are discussed

1. The steps of the operation of spinal osteotomy, as carried out with the patient in the lateral posture, are described. 2. Details of post-operative management are given. 3. The major risks of the operation are discussed and precautions suggested

1 . Intertrochanteric osteotomy is valuable in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the hip, giving a high percentage of satisfactory results. It often relieves the pain immediately, is long-lasting in its effects, and may even increase the range of movement. 2. There is no evidence from our figures that the extent of medial displacement of the lower fragment influences the result as judged from relief of pain, performance, and the patient's assessment. Movement, however, is less improved if displacement exceeds half the diameter of the divided bone. 3. Our observations did not support the view that improvement is caused by a changed relationship between the upper fragment and the acetabulum. When measurements were possible the position of the upper fragment usually remained virtually unaltered. 4. Our figures confirm that in most patients relief of pain is immediate; that is to say, the patient is aware on regaining consciousness that his pain has gone, even though he formerly had pain at rest. Whatever may be the mechanism that relieves the pain, it acts immediately

We used hydroxyapatite blocks to keep open Salter innominate osteotomies in 19 children (21 hips), avoiding the need for an autograft taken from the anterior superior iliac spine. Our results were satisfactory, with less deformation of the iliac bone, and a reduction of both blood loss and operating time

We report the results of supramalleolar varus osteotomy on seven ankles (in six patients) for haemophilic arthropathy and secondary valgus deformity. The operation reduced pain and the frequency of intra-articular bleeding while preserving joint function for a mean of nine years. The procedure is an attractive alternative to the more commonly used surgical option of arthrodesis

1. Forty patients out of sixty-nine operated upon between 1932 and 1952 by displacement osteotomy for congenital dislocation of the hip, ununited fracture of the neck of the femur, and osteoarthritis of the hip have been reviewed and the results analysed. 2. The factors responsible for the success of the operation are discussed and the technique of operation is described

1. An oblique displacement osteotomy of the distal third of the first metatarsal is described for the correction of adolescent hallux valgus. 2. No fixation of the fragments is necessary, stability depending upon displacement in the over-corrected position for two weeks. 3. A follow-up of twenty-five operations has shown only one failure, from recurrence of the deformity. There have been no complications

The features of congenital elevation of the scapula are described for a group of 16 children. Fibrous bands which tether the scapula and limit its movements were discovered in most children. Vertical displacement osteotomy of the medial border of the scapula and division of the fibrous attachments have provided a reliable and safe treatment for 12 children during the past 10 years