title: W/M serrated osteotomy for infantile Blount's disease in Ghana: Short-term results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The W/M serrated high tibial osteotomy is a not frequently described surgical technique for simultaneously correcting the varus and torsional deformity in patients with Blount's disease. Without the need for internal fixation, this surgical treatment is well suited for developing countries. This study describes the short-term results of the bilateral and unilateral W/M serrated osteotomy in patients with infantile Blount's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2008 and January 2013, 52 patients were treated with uni- (n = 22) or bi-lateral (n = 30) W/M serrated osteotomy of the proximal tibia due to a tibial varus deformity in two district hospitals in Ghana. Other causes than infantile Blount's disease were excluded from the analysis. Pre- and post-operative clinical and radiological measurements were done, and complications were monitored up to 12 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients (five males, 12 females; mean age 4.9 [standard deviation: 2.10]) were included, which underwent a total of 25 W/M serrated osteotomies. The femorotibial angle was corrected from 34.1° ([mean] range: 6-68°) to - 7.1° ([mean] range: -28-5°). Only one patient had developed a wound infection, and all reached full consolidation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The W/M serrated osteotomy seems a profitable alternative technique for treating the varus and torsional deformity in patients with Blount's disease in the circumstances of developing countries. The short-term outcomes are good and promising with a low complication rate and good consolidation. Long-term follow-up results of these patients are needed to observe possible complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV, therapeutic case series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Research School Caphri, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hollman
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, St. Anthony's Hospital, Ghana.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Korpisah
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, St. Anthony's Hospital, Ghana.
authors.forename: Pjjm
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rompa
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, St. John of God Hospital, West Africa.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moh
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Research School Caphri, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: van Rhijn
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Research School Caphri, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Staal
mesh_terms: D001848:Bone Diseases, Developmental / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055034:Osteochondrosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome