The Effect of Proximal Tibial Osteotomy in Correction of Lower Limb Alignment in Patients With Medial Compartment Knee Osteoarthritis



Motififard M¹ ; Ghafari S¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Isfahan Medical School Published:2012

Abstract

Background: Osteotomy of proximal tibial bone is a surgical treatment for patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis with a 5-year satisfaction rate of 80%. The surgery aims to correct varus deformity and lower limb alignment and reach a 3- to 5-degree overcorrection. Because the most important cause of unsatisfactory results are overcorrection and undercorrection, in this study we tried to evaluate the final results. Methods: In a clinical trial in Kashani Hospital (Isfahan, Iran), 20 patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis were selected using convenient sampling. Patients were excluded if they did not wish to participate or did not refer for control. Patients' data was collected before the surgery. Radiographs of the lower limbs (alignment view) were also taken before the operation. Radiography was repeated 2 months after the surgery and the results were compared using paired t-test in SPSS. Findings: The mean of anatomical angle was 5.1 ± 3.4 degrees (varus angle) before and 11.9 ± 3.4 degrees (valgus angle) after the surgery. The difference between the 2 values was significant according to paired t-test (P < 0.001). Similarly, a significant difference was observed between the mechanical angles before and after the surgery (12.6 ± 3.4 vs. -4.75 ± 3.5 degrees) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Upper tibial osteotomy can correct the alignment of lower extremity and decrease knee pain.