title: SEVERE VALGUS DEFORMITY OF THE KNEE: DESCRIPTION OF NEW SURGICAL TECHNIQUE FOR ITS CORRECTION.
abstract: Varus supracondylar osteotomy of the femur is the established procedure for treating painful knees that present lateral arthrosis and valgus deformity. In descriptions of the conventional surgical techniques, there are divergences regarding the location, access route, correction level, fixation type and area for synthesis insertion. This is most evident in cases of severe valgus with angles greater than 30° and distal femoral deformation, in association with hypoplasia of the lateral condyle. The authors describe a new surgical technique for distal femoral osteotomy, based on anatomical and geometrical criteria, which was developed in their clinic for treating severe valgus cases, and they present one of the cases treated. In the new technique, the wedge to be surgically resected has an oblique direction and the format of an isosceles triangle. This new proposal thus seeks to resolve problems that have been presented in such cases, through enabling valgus correction without causing any new deformity of the distal femur. Good cortical bone contact is promoted, and application of a stable synthesis system is made easier. However, the age limits for such patients and the degree of knee arthrosis that might contraindicate this procedure remain unknown. Hence, a larger sample and longer follow-up for operated cases are required.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist and Head of the Knee Group, Hospital Santa Izabel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robson Rocha
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Adjunct Professor; PhD from the Bahia School of Medicine and Public Health, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Almeida
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Resident Physician at Hospital Santa Izabel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist at Hospital Santa Izabel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Jacomeli
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Orthopedist at Hospital Santa Izabel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Valadares
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Oliveira
keywords: Femur; Knee; Osteoarthritis; Osteotomy