Valgus subtrochanteric
osteotomy is the standard surgical treatment for
coxa vara. Nevertheless, there is no consensus on the method of fixation and
osteotomy technique. There are some reports on employing rigid internal fixation methods that preclude the need of postoperative immobilization. This is a technical description of a valgus
osteotomy performed using external fixation with preoperative and postoperative data on a cohort of 9 patients. In this study, 9 hips in 9 patients with the diagnosis of
developmental coxa vara underwent a subtrochanteric
osteotomy with stabilization by an
external fixator. The planned correction angle was obtained for all 9 patients with the
osteotomies healing primarily. Radiographic analysis showed an improvement in Hilgenreiner's epiphyseal angle and the neck-shaft angle. There were no major complications associated with use of this method of stabilization. Minimal access surgery using external fixation for a valgus
osteotomy of the proximal femur is safe and effective for the treatment for
coxa vara and limb length discrepancy. It has potential advantages over commonly used open techniques and provides available alternative to currently applied methods used for fixation of proximal femoral
osteotomies.