High tibial osteotomy without internal fixation for medial unicompartmental osteoarthrosis.

Between 1982 and 1993, a total of 35 patients underwent high tibial osteotomy for medial unicompartmental osteoarthrosis. The osteotomy was performed high in the tibia without the use of jigs, and internal fixation devices were avoided. Patients were assessed using the British Association for Surgery of the Knee score, and satisfactory results with minimal complications were obtained. Our results indicate that in a select group of patients, high tibial osteotomy preserves bone stock and is performed near the deformity so that excellent correction is achieved and recurrence of varus deformity is avoided.