title: Results of step-cut medial malleolar osteotomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of certain complex ankle pathology, such as a talar body fracture or osteochondral lesion requiring grafting, can necessitate medial malleolar osteotomy for adequate operative exposure. This paper evaluates the step-cut medial malleolar osteotomy for exposure of the ankle joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with intra-articular pathology, including talar body fractures or osteochondral lesions necessitating extensive intra-articular exposure had step-cut malleolar osteotomy. The average age of the patients was 37 (range 20-90) years, and the average followup was 8 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 14 patients had an uncomplicated intraoperative course, with excellent exposure of the ankle joint. All patients had prompt healing of the osteotomy by 6 weeks after surgery without loss of reduction. None of the patients had pain at the osteotomy site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Step-cut medial malleolar osteotomy is an excellent, reproducible method for extensive exposure of the talar dome.
authors.affiliation: USC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 1520 San Pablo Avenue, Suite 2000, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. thordars@usc.edu
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Thordarson
authors.forename: Shawn K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kaku
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013628:Talus / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome