Importance

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an osteotomy guide with a saw guide and an alignment member to be mounted on a pivot pin at the apex of a wedge of bone to be removed. The saw guide establishes a cut plane and guides a cutting device as it cuts through the bone in the cut plane. The alignment member projects in a direction generally normal or transverse to the cut plane and provides a reference for the alignment steps in the osteotomy procedure as described below. The saw guide and alignment member are either permanently or selectively coupled to one another for common pivotal motion about the pivot pin. The present method of carrying out the osteotomy involves aligning the alignment member with a predetermined anatomical landmark and making a first cut. After the first cut is made the alignment member is pivoted about the pivot pin, together with the saw guide which is coupled to it, into alignment relative to a second anatomical landmark. By choosing appropriate landmarks, the saw guide will automatically be placed so that the angle between the cuts results in the proper correction.

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First Claim