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.