Bicortical structural autograft harvest during medializing calcaneal osteotomy: technique tip.

A structural bone graft is often required when performing procedures associated with flexible planovalgus deformity correction. These procedures are commonly done in conjunction with a medializing calcaneal osteotomy. Associated procedures include lengthening calcaneal osteotomy through the anterior calcaneus, distraction calcaneocuboid arthrodesis, and plantarflexion osteotomies of the medial cuneiform and first metatarsal. The osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties of autografts make it the gold standard when a graft is needed. This structural autograft is most commonly harvested from the iliac crest, however the potential complications and morbidity associated with this procedure has been well highlighted in the literature.1–4,6–10,12–15,17 Allografts not only are costly, but carry the potential risk of disease transmission. Structural autograft can be taken from the calcaneus itself when a calcaneal osteotomy is performed, thereby avoiding issues related to both iliac crest harvest and allografts. A technically easy procedure is proposed for obtaining a bicortical structural autograft from the calcaneus at the site of the medializing calcaneal osteotomy.