ONE-TIME CORRECTIONAL OSTEOTOMY AFTER FRACTURES CLOSE TO THE KNEE-JOINT

Post-traumatic malalignment can occur on one or several planes followi ng fractures in close proximity to the knee joint. In a clinical and r adiological analysis of deformities, the frontal, sagittal and longitu dinal alignment, as well as differences in femoral or tibial length an d torsion, must be taken into account. The location of the correctiona l osteotomy is usually defined by the center of the angular and torsio nal deformity. Of decisive importance when choosing the site of the os teotomy are the local quality of bone and the soft tissue envelope, th e condition of the articular cartilage in the different compartments o f the knee, the stability of ligamentocapsular structures and preexist ent deformities of the distal femur and proximal tibia. Therefore, the location of correctional osteotomies must be modified, depending on t he individual situation. The appropriate approach and technique must b e chosen from the different available operative techniques. Inaccurate planning and inappropriate operative techniques pose severe risks. Sp ecific postoperative complications are compartment syndromes, nerve ir ritation and infection.