To assess the efficacy of medial wedged proximal tibial osteotomy for treating knee osteoarthritis with varus deformity.
From July 1996 to September 1999, 19 patients with knee osteoarthritis accompanied by varus deformity were treated by medial wedged proximal tibial osteotomy combined with internal fixation. Full-length anterior-posterior radiographs were taken preoperatively, 8 weeks and 2 years postoperatively. The parameters including the femorotibial angle, the tibial angle, the femoral angle, the femoral condyle-tibial plateau angle, and the medial joint space, were measured from these radiographs. The function of knee was evaluated according to the 100-point rating scale standard of knee.
The mean postoperative score had been significantly improved from 48.6 +/- 16.6 points to 81.7 +/- 14.8 points after 2 years of operation. The medial joint space had been increased from 2.2 +/- 1.6 mm to 4.9 +/- 1.5 mm and the femoral condyle-tibial angle had been decreased from 7.4 degrees +/- 3.1 degrees to 1.7 degrees +/- 3.1 degrees. There were complications in 3 cases: 2 cases of superficial wound infections and 1 case of intra-articular fracture. There were no delayed union and recurrence of varus deformity.
Medial wedged proximal tibial osteotomy combined with internal fixation provides an efficacious approach to treat knee osteoarthritis with varus deformity.