Opening-wedge osteotomy for angular deformities of long bones in children.

Mild angular deformities associated with a mild limb-length discrepancy of long bones in children can be treated effectively with opening-wedge osteotomy with insertion of a specially prepared autogenous tricortical iliac-crest bone graft and with minimum or no internal fixation. Thirty-one osteotomies in twenty-six children satisfactorily corrected the deformities so that the angulation and length of the bone were comparable with the values on the normal, contralateral side. Physeal arrest or ipsilateral excision of a physeal bar was performed either concomitantly or at a separate operation in twenty-one of the twenty-six patients, to aid in the treatment of the limb-length discrepancy. Opening-wedge osteotomy is applicable for correction when the angular deformity is 25 degrees or less and the limb-length discrepancy is, or will be, twenty-five millimeters or less at maturity.