Background
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and short-term results of medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy with the use of a wedge toothed plate in patients with medial compartment osteoarthrosis.
Patients and methods
This study was conducted from April 2010 and September 2012 and included 16 knees of seven female patients and nine male patients. Their average age was 40 years (range: 28–52 years), and they were treated with medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy for varus knees with early medial compartment osteoarthrosis. The osteotomy sites were fixed with a wedge toothed plate without bone graft. The mean follow-up period was 11.4 months (range: 6–15 months).
Results
The average union time was 15 weeks (range: 8–24 weeks). The mean preoperative and postoperative Lysholm scores were 54.1 (range: 30–60) and 82 (range: 67–95), respectively. The mean preoperative femorotibial angle was 3.5° in varus malalignment (range: 3° valgus to 9° varus). It was 7.3° valgus postoperatively. The mean correction of the mechanical axis was 10.7°. There was loss of correction in one patient and needed revision. Four (25%) cases had delayed union.
Conclusion
Medial opening wedge osteotomy with the use of a wedge toothed plate had advantages of easy application and maintenance of correction in the early follow-up period without bone graft application. Consolidation is obtained without interfering with the rehabilitation period.