Lateral Opening Wedge Distal Femoral Osteotomy for Lateral Compartment Arthrosis/Overload

Distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) is a valid option for the treatment of young and active patients with lateral compartment osteoarthritis/overload and valgus malalignment. DFOs can be performed with a closing wedge or opening wedge technique. Lateral opening wedge DFO is usually preferred for smaller corrections, whereas medial closing wedge for larger corrections and in patients with high risk of nonunion. This article describes the relevant aspects regarding lateral opening wedge DFO, including patient selection, preoperative planning, surgical technique, results, and complications.