Method and apparatus for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy

1. A method for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy, the method comprising:

providing an osteotomy implant, the osteotomy implant comprising:

a body for disposition within the wedge-shaped osteotomy opening in the bone and supporting the bone while healing occurs; and

at least one key formed integral with the body for stabilizing the body relative to the adjacent bone while healing occurs;

cutting the tibia along a cutting plane, with the cut terminating at a boundary line;

forming at least one keyhole in a surface of the tibia adjacent to the cut that corresponds to a shape of said at least one key;

moving the bone on either side of the cut apart so as to form a wedge-shaped osteotomy opening in the bone; and

positioning the osteotomy implant in the wedge-shaped osteotomy opening in the tibia, wherein the body of the osteotomy implant is disposed within the wedge-shaped osteotomy opening in the tibia and the at least one key is disposed in the at least one keyhole formed in the surface of the tibia.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein at least a portion of the body and the at least one key are formed out of a relatively strong, load-bearing material whereby to stabilize the bone during healing;

and further wherein at least a portion of the body is formed out of a bone growth-promoting material whereby to enhance bone healing across the osteotomy opening in the bone.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one keyhole is formed such that the at least one keyhole overlaps the cut.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming at least one keyhole step occurs before the cutting step.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting step occurs before the forming at least one keyhole step.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one keyhole is formed distal to the cutting plane.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising forming at least a second keyhole in the tibia proximal to the cutting plane.

8. The method of claim 7 , where a line formed between the centers of the at least one keyhole and the at least a second keyhole is perpendicular to the cutting plane.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one keyhole is formed proximal to the cutting plane.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting plane bisects the at least one keyhole.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising forming a second keyhole, wherein the cutting plane bisects the second keyhole.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a fastener through the at least one key and into the tibia.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fastener is inserted through the at least one key and into the tibia proximal to the cut.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the fastener is inserted through the at least one key and into the tibia distal to the cut.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding the at least one key within the at least one keyhole.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the osteotomy implant further comprises at least one fenestration extending through the body for permitting bone growth through the implant.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a boundary pin along the boundary line.