Osteotomy for approaches to the knee joint: Tibial tubercle, lateral epicondyle of the femur and head of the fibula

The present article summarizes the different osteotomy techniques for an extension of standard surgical approaches to the knee joint in selected patients. The aim is to achieve satisfactory exposure and reduce potential postoperative complications compared to alternative techniques, such as the V-Y plasty or the quadriceps snip procedures. Osteotomy of the tibial tubercle is a reasonable extension of the anteromedial or the anterolateral surgical approach in selected patients undergoing revision total knee replacement. This osteotomy will provide excellent surgical exposure of the knee without the risk of avulsion of the patellar tendon and will preserve the blood supply of the patella and the surrounding soft tissue. Moreover, functional clinical outcome will be improved by minimizing damage to the extensor mechanism. Osteotomy of the lateral femoral condyle gives excellent exposure of the posterolateral aspect of the knee joint which might be necessary in some patients with fractures of the posterolateral tibial plateau as well as patients undergoing open allograft transplantation of the lateral meniscus. An alternative option for an extended exposure to the posterolateral knee joint is accomplished by osteotomy or partial resection of the fibular head which is also described as having good clinical results and a low complication rate. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.