Rotational femoral osteotomies using an endomedullary saw

Summary Introduction The goal of this retrospective study is to analyze a series of ten patients (11 osteotomies) who underwent closed femoral rotational osteotomy using an endomedullary saw; stabilization was achieved by a locked centromedullary nail. We report the indications, technical aspects, clinical and radiological results as well as intercurrent complications with this surgical technique. Hypothesis Femoral endomedullary osteotomy is a safe procedure to correct malrotations. Patients and methods Eleven femoral rotational osteotomies using an endomedullary saw were performed on ten patients, between January 1999 and July 2007. The indications were post-traumatic rotational malunions or congenital rotational deformities. The angular deformity averaged 33.5° (24°–52°). They were divided into internal rotation (ten cases) or external rotation (one case). One patient required a bilateral rotational osteotomy because of a congenital femoral malrotation combined to bilateral trochlear dysplasia. Rotational correction was, in two patients, simultaneously associated with a closed lengthening osteotomy. Clinical and radiological follow-up averaged 4 years and 9 months (26–104 months). The angular corrections obtained by these rotation osteotomies were calculated by CAT scans. Results Ten out of eleven osteotomies allowed a correction within a 4° range in relation to the physiological femoral neck anteversion values (or to the contralateral side in the case of a healthy opposite lower extremity). There was no bone, joint, skin, or soft tissues infection, no pseudoarthrosis and no delayed outgrowth. We observed a transient neurological complication in the area of the pudendal nerve, during a combined rotational-lengthening osteotomy, as well as a bilateral femoral fracture during the bilateral rotational osteotomy. In all patients, consolidation occurred within a 3- to 5-month delay. The subjective results showed that eight out of nine patients (one was lost to follow-up) were satisfied or very satisfied with their operation, their functional recovery and the aesthetic aspects of their scars. Discussion Closed rotational osteotomies in adults represent a reliable, effective, safe and reproducible procedure for the correction of femoral torsion problems, whether they are post-traumatic or congenital. These results can be obtained only by respecting the indications and by applying a rigorously planned technique, including expertise in centromedullary nailing. L