[Modification of sagittal osteotomy of the patella as treatment of excentric chondromalacia or retropatellar arthrosis. Preliminary communication (author's transl)].

The author presents a modification of Morscher's sagittal osteotomy of the patella especially for the treatment of excentric chondromalacia. Congruity of the joint spaces in this modification is achieved through removal of an anteriorly based bone wedge from the patella after sagittal wedge osteotomy allowing the lifting of one or the other patellar facet. This osteotomy is indicated in all cases of unilateral chondromalacia or arthrosis with narrowing of the two joint spaces viewed on tangential patello-femoral X-rays. Following the ideas of Pauwels and Maquet, restoration of a wide joint space and reduction of local excessive stress result in reparative mechanisms of the cartilage involved. The to date preliminary clinical results in 5 cases (1 year max. follow-up) are encouraging.