Open wedge valgus tibial osteotomies: affecting the distinct ACL bundles

Excellent short-term results of dome-shaped high tibial osteotomy combined with all-inside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes at least 2 years after dome-shaped high tibial osteotomy (HTO) combined with all-inside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL) in patients with persistent ACL insufficiency accompanied by pain due to varus deformity.

METHODS

The study enrolled 19 knees of 18 patients. The mean age was 58.4 ± 13.4 years and the mean postoperative follow-up period was 31.4 ± 6.6 months (24-49 months). JOA(Japanese Orthopaedic Association)-OA(osteoarthritis) score, Lysholm score, radiographic outcomes such as femoro-tibia angle (FTA) in a standing position, side-to-side difference in KT-1000 measurements were evaluated at pre op. and post operative final follow up. And arthroscopic evaluation was evaluated at the time of the HTO plate-removal procedure.

RESULTS

Before surgery, the mean JOA-OA score was 65.0 ± 13.5, the mean Lysholm score was 47.2 ± 16.2, the mean femoro-tibia angle (FTA) in a standing position was 183.8 ± 3.4° (range;180-190°), and the mean side-to-side difference in KT-1000 measurements was 4.1 ± 1.3 mm. After surgery, the mean JOA-OA score, Lysholm score, and side-to-side difference in KT-1000 measurements improved to 93.1 ± 6.0 (P < 0.00001), 94.2 ± 5.9 (P < 0.00001), and -0.2 ± 0.8 mm (P < 0.00001), respectively. The mean FTA decreased to 168.0 ± 3.3 (P < 0.00001), and the mean posterior tibial slope angle decreased to 5.0 ± 3.6° from 6.9 ± 2.6° preoperatively (P = 0.024). Arthroscopic evaluation during the HTO plate-removal procedure of 17 knees were performed at a mean of 16 months after the surgery. The reconstructed ACL graft in 13 knees were successful, a cyclops lesion in one knee, and looseness of the graft in three knees.

CONCLUSIONS

Dome-shaped HTO allows for a relatively high degree of varus correction and decreases the steep posterior tibial slope that causes excessive load on the ACL. Therefore, its use in combination with ACL reconstruction seems to be effective.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in association with medial unicompartmental knee replacement: a retrospective study comparing clinical and radiological outcomes of two different implant design

PURPOSE

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) combined with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has recently been suggested as a feasible treatment option for young and active patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis (OA) and ACL deficiency. The aim of this study is to evaluate retrospectively the outcomes of two different implant designs in patients with medial OA secondary to traumatic ACL rupture, who underwent combined ACL reconstruction and unicompartmental knee replacement.

METHODS

From January 2007, to December 2013, 24 patients with medial OA secondary to ACL rupture underwent medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and ACL reconstruction. Nine patients received a mobile bearing UKA (Group 1) and fifteen a fixed-bearing one (Group 2). The mean follow-up was 53 ± 8.3 months for Group 1 and 42 ± 6.7 months for Group 2. Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Index of Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index and radiological evaluation used to assess the implant loosening alignment of the knee joint and tibial slope were recorded pre-operatively and at the last follow-up.

RESULTS

At the final follow-up, all patients showed statistically significant clinical improvements with respect to the pre-operative values (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in WOMAC index and KSS both objective and functional between groups at the last follow-up (KSS obj. 73.4 ± 9.3 vs 77.3 ± 10.5; KSS funct. 86.2 ± 6.2 vs 84.7 ± 5.9; WOMAC 79.3 ± 7.3 vs 81.3 ± 7.6 for Group 1 and 2, respectively). No differences in radiolucent lines were found between the groups.

CONCLUSION

The use of different prosthesis design (fixed- or mobile-bearing) during a combined procedure of ACL reconstruction and medial unicompartmental arthroplasty does not affect the middle-term clinical and radiological outcomes.

Change in limb length after high tibial osteotomy using computer-assisted surgery: a comparative study of closed- and open-wedge osteotomies

PURPOSE

Limb length changes were evaluated after closed- and open-wedge high tibial osteotomies (HTOs) using computer-assisted surgery.

METHODS

A total of 78 closed- and 30 open-wedge HTOs were performed. The changes in limb length were evaluated on a navigation system and radiographs. The correction angle was defined as the difference between the pre and postoperative mechanical axis on the navigation system. The change in limb length with respect to the correction angle was analyzed.

RESULTS

Following the closed-wedge HTOs, the mean changes in limb length based on the navigation system and radiographs were -1.3 ± 1.9 and -1.3 ± 10.7 mm, respectively, versus 6.2 ± 2.6 and 7.8 ± 2.9 mm after the open-wedge HTOs. The mean correction angle was 11.6 ± 3.2° for closed-wedge HTOs and 11.5 ± 1.9° for open-wedge HTOs. The correction angle did not affect the change in limb length after closed-wedge HTO, while the larger the correction angle required, the greater the increase in limb length after open-wedge HTO.

CONCLUSIONS

The change in limb length was negligible after closed-wedge HTO, while the limb length was increased slightly after open-wedge HTO. The possibility of limb lengthening must be considered carefully when determining whom to perform open-wedge HTO on, especially when a large correction angle is required.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Computer-assisted navigation for the intraoperative assessment of lower limb alignment in high tibial osteotomy can avoid outliers compared with the conventional technique

PURPOSE

Longterm outcomes after valgization high tibial osteotomy (HTO) to treat varus osteoarthritis seem to depend mainly on correction precision. Intraoperative assessment of leg alignment based on radiological visualization of the mechanical axis is difficult and its precision is limited. A promising approach to improving precision is to make use of navigation systems. The case-control study reported here involved the evaluation of patients whose varus osteoarthritis had been treated by open-wedge high tibial ostoetomy, and an analysis of the effect of computer-guided navigation on postoperative leg alignment.

METHODS

Forty patients with medial varus osteoarthritis managed by open-wedge high tibial osteotomy using a surgical navigation system were included in the present study (Group 1). They were compared with a retrospective control group (Group 2) of 40 patients with respect to postoperative leg alignment, correlation of planned and definitive correction, and postoperative deviation from the Fujisawa point.

RESULTS

The mean values for planned and definitive correction showed no significant differences for identical demographic data. As a percentage of the width of the tibial plateau the postoperative weight-bearing radiographs showed a mechanical line that intersected with the knee base line at the desired value of 62% (Fujisawa point) in 58.8% (SD ± 6.1) in Group 1 and in 58.6% (SD ± 8.1) in Group 2. Despite similar mean values a significantly higher number of corrections were outside the reference area (n = 7) in the non-navigated group, whereby all corrections were within the desired range in the navigated group. There were no significant differences in operation time.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the use of a navigation system can not increase the precision of the open-wedge HTO procedure in patients with varus osteoarthritis but it can eliminate the outliers of a well defined range.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Case-control study, Retrospective comparative study, Level III.

Combined unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

PURPOSE

Patients presenting anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency and isolated osteoarthritis of the medial compartment are treated either with biplanar osteotomy or with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, these patients between the forties and fifties are often very active in daily life and feel limited due to their knee. In order to follow the idea of preserving as much as possible from the joint, the concept of unicondylar joint replacement in conjunction with ACL reconstruction has been followed. There seems to be a limited experience with this concept. The purpose of the follow-up study was to evaluate the midterm clinical and functional outcome.

METHODS

Twenty-seven patients were followed up for 53 months. The mean age of the 11 men and 16 women was 44 years. All patients were treated by combined unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

RESULTS

The Knee Society Score improved significantly from 77.1 ± 11.6 points to 166.0 ± 12.1 points (P ≤ 0.01). No revision surgery was required and no radiolucent lines were observed on the radiographs at the time of follow-up. The anterior translation showed less than 5 mm in 24 patients and 5 mm in the remaining 3 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The midterm clinical data have shown that combined surgery of UKA and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has revealed promising results. The restored knee stability seems to prevent the failure of UKA. However, long-term follow-up studies are required in these patients who received partial joint replacement fairly early in their life.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.