gms | German Medical Science

Objectives: In this study, we assessed postoperative changes in the posterior tibial slope angle (PTSA) and clinical outcomes following open-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

Methods: This study included 39 knees (18 left, 21 right) of 35 patients (3 male, 32 female; mean age, 50 years; age range, 37;64 years) with symptomatic isolated medial joint osteoarthritis who underwent open-wedge high tibial osteotomy and fixation with a Puddu plate. The patients were clinically assessed according to the Lysholm Knee Score, a visual analogue pain scale, and a patient satisfaction questionnaire. They were radiologically assessed according to the changes in the PTSA and the correlation between these changes and clinical signs. The mean follow-up period was 10.5 years (range, 7;14 years).

Results and Conclusion: Significant improvements were observed in the preoperative and postoperative clinical scores of the Lysholm Knee Scale, visual analogue pain scale, and patient satisfaction questionnaire (p< 0.05). Radiological assessment showed that the PTSA was significantly higher during the postoperative and follow-up periods (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the postoperative Lysholm scores and the increase in the PTSA (p > 0.05)

Open-wedge high tibial osteotomy is an effective therapeutic modality for patients with medial gonarthrosis. There is a continuous increase in the PTSA during long-term follow-up; however, this increase is not associated with worsening of clinical signs.