title: French Osteotomy for Cubitus Varus in Children: A Long-term Study Over 27 Years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cubitus varus is a cosmetically unacceptable complication of supracondylar fractures of the elbow in children. We have performed the lateral closing wedge (French) osteotomy to correct the varus for 27 years. More complex osteotomies have been described to correct the associated hyperextension and internal rotation deformities and to prevent a prominent lateral condyle.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 90 consecutive patients (1986 to 2012). The mean age of the patients at surgery was 8.2 years (3 to 14 y). The varus angle (mean, 21.4 degrees; range, 8 to 40 degrees) was assessed preoperatively with the humero-elbow-wrist angle. The postoperative carrying angle (mean, 10.4 degrees) and the preoperative and postoperative range of movement were assessed clinically. The lateral condylar prominence index (LCPI) was retrospectively measured at union.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four (93.3%) of the patients had a good or excellent result. Six (6.7%) had a poor result (residual varus, loss of >20 degrees of preoperative range of flexion or extension or a complication necessitating resurgery). There were no neurovascular complications. The mean LCPI was +0.14.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the French osteotomy are comparable with the more technically demanding dome, step-cut translation, and multiplanar osteotomies, with a lower complication rate. The literature reports adequate remodeling of the hyperextension deformity (≤10 y) and the LCPI (≤12 y), and that the internal rotation deformity is well tolerated by the patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV-case series.
authors: Maitland Cottage Paediatric Orthopaedic Hospital and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: North
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Held
authors: Stewart
authors: S
authors: Dix-Peek
authors: E B
authors: EB
authors: Hoffman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D016916:Joint Deformities, Acquired / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome