The evaluation of intertrochanteric osteotomy in relation to osteotomized angle and leg-length discrepancy for osteoarthritis of the hip.

A series of 103 joints in 93 patients with secondary osteoarthritis were treated by intertrochanteric osteotomy, and investigated on a nationwide basis. The types of osteotomy were classified as varus, 35 joints (62.5%); valgus, 22 joints (55%). The total number of cases with a combined error of 5 degrees was 48 with varus (85.7%) and 31 with valgus (77.5%) corrections. This indicates that a slight deficiency or excess of angulation does not significantly influence the clinical results. Cases with increased center-edge angle after varus osteotomy or with decreased AHI after valgus osteotomy demonstrated a relatively high rating of clinical improvement. Postoperative discrepancies of the leg length were more serious after varus osteotomy (with angulation of 25 degrees or more) than valgus osteotomies. The clinical results after either type, graded by the method of Tanaka were generally satisfactory.