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

1. A method for performing an osteotomy, comprising:

forming an osteotomy cut in a bone;

opening the bone so as to form a wedge-like opening;

broaching the bone to form a seat overlapping the osteotomy cut, wherein the seat comprises an upper seat and a lower seat, wherein the upper seat is formed in the bone proximal to the osteotomy cut and the lower seat is formed in the bone distal to the osteotomy cut;

providing an osteotomy plate, wherein the osteotomy plate comprises:

a body having a front side and a back side;

a protrusion extending out of the back side of the body for disposition in the wedge-like opening, wherein the protrusion comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; and

a plurality of mounting holes for receiving fixation screws therein, the mounting holes being formed in the body such that when the protrusion is disposed in the wedge-like opening, the mounting holes direct fixation screws into the bone on either side of the wedge-like opening;

positioning the osteotomy plate so that the back side of the osteotomy plate is positioned against the bone and the protrusion is disposed in the wedge-like opening, such that the upper portion is seated in the upper seat and the lower portion is seated in the lower seat; and

passing fixation screws through the mounting holes formed in the osteotomy plate and into the bone so as to secure the osteotomy plate to the bone.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the bone is broached so that the osteotomy plate is substantially flush with the front surface of the bone.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the osteotomy plate further comprises an integral wedge, in addition to the projection, extending out of the back side of the body for disposition in the wedge-like opening, and further wherein the osteotomy plate is positioned so that the integral wedge is positioned in the wedge-like opening.

4. A method for performing an osteotomy comprising:

forming an osteotomy cut in a bone;

forming a plurality of holes in the bone adjacent the osteotomy cut;

opening the bone so as to form a wedge-like opening;

providing an osteotomy system comprising:

an osteotomy plate for securing the wedge-shaped implant in the wedge-like opening, the osteotomy plate comprising:

a body having a front side and a back side; and

a plurality of bosses configured to seat in the plurality of holes, wherein each boss comprises a mounting hole for receiving a fixation screw therein, the mounting holes being formed in the body such that when the body is disposed across the opening of the wedge-like opening, the mounting holes direct the fixation screws into bone on either side of the wedge-like opening;

positioning the osteotomy plate so that the back side of the osteotomy plate is positioned against the bone;

inserting each boss into its respective hole; and

passing fixation screws through the mounting holes formed in the osteotomy plate and into the bone so as to secure the osteotomy plate to the bone.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein a front surface of the bone is broached so as to provide a seat for the osteotomy plate, with the bone being broached so that the osteotomy plate is substantially flush with the front surface of the bone.

6. A method of performing an osteotomy comprising:

forming an osteotomy cut in the bone;

forming a first keyhole in the bone, wherein the keyhole overlaps the osteotomy cut;

opening the bone so as to form a wedge-like opening;

inserting an implant comprising a first key into the wedge-like opening such that the first key is seated in the first keyhole;

affixing the implant to the bone.