Decortication and osteotomy for the correction of multiplanar deformity in the treatment of malunion in adult diaphyseal femoral deformity: a case series and technique description.

AIM: To review patients that have undergone correction of a symptomatic femoral malunion using osteotomy combined with decortication.

METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who have undergone decortication and multiplanar osteotomy, looking at the pre-operative deformity, correction achieved, time to union and complications.

RESULTS: Seven patients underwent correction under the senior author from 2003 to 2012. Average age was 46 years (range 32-60 years). All had femoral shortening deformity (average 2.7 cm, range 2-4 cm). Each also had at least one other plane of deformity with rotation being the next most commonly encountered in 5 out of the 7 (average 33°, range 0°-45°). Two had tri-planar deformity with the five having bi-planar deformity. Average time to union was 16.3 months (range 7-39 months) with an average of 1.5 operations (range 1-3 operations) to union. One patient has a non-union after five corrective operations.

CONCLUSION: Correction of multiplanar deformity of the femur is challenging. Osteotomy with decortication provides a technique to achieve significant femoral multiplanar deformity correction in a single operation. This publication provides technical description of the operative technique, guidance and results.