Patent ID: 8709052

Claim:
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.