Osteotomy for tibia vara in Paget's disease under cover of calcitonin.

Five women with Paget's disease of the tibia were seen with pain in the knee, ankle, or both, as well as with tibial bone pain. All had tibia vara and internal torsion of the tibial shaft. Osteotomy to correct the deformities was preceded by a course of calcitonin which relieved the bone pain but did not relieve the articular pain. Relief after satisfactory correction of the tibial deformity was achieved in all patients. Calcitonin effectively minimized bleeding at the osteotomy site and complications were not encountered.