Management of the fibula in high tibial osteotomy for arthritis of the knee. Union times and complications.

An evaluation of 300 high tibial osteotomies in 285 patients showed that the more distal the fibular osteotomy the longer the union time. The union time of the tibial osteotomy was unaffected by the site of the fibular osteotomy, but union was most rapid in both when staples were used. Most complications in curved osteotomy occurred when the fibular osteotomy was performed 15 cm below the fibular head. In wedge osteotomy loosening of the staples used for fixation was the most frequent complication.