Abstract
Valgus deformity of the osteoarthrotic knee is much less common than varus deformity, especially in Japan. We treated 2 patients by varus-inducing osteotomy for valgus knee. One case underwent proximal tibial osteotomy and the other was managed by distal femoral osteotomy. Distal femoral varus-inducing osteotomy is a common surgical approach for the valgus knee. Because of the inherent valgus angulation of the distal femur, a medial-based proximal tibial osteotomy results in an oblique joint line tilted superolaterally. Such tilting leads to a shear force across the knee, while the distal femur appears to fall off the medial tibial plateau, but if the angle between the anatomic femoral axis and the tibial mechanical axis was less than about 15 degrees of valgus or if the plane of the joint was expected to postoperatively deviate from the horizontal by less than 10 degrees, proximal tibial osteotomy was performed. Varus osteotomy for valgus deformity has been successful in patients satisfying appropriate indications.
