A SPECIAL HIGH TIBIAL OSTEOTOMY TECHNIQUE FOR TREATMENT OF UNICOMPARTMENTAL OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE

Tibial osteotomy is a well-established procedure for treatment of the varus osteoarthritic knee. A special new technique of oblique tibial o steotomy at the level of the tibial tubercle, preserving the medial co rtex and iliotibial band, is presented which allows partial weight bea ring the first postoperative day. Postoperatively the femorotibial ali gnment should be 5-degrees to 7-degrees of valgus in elderly patients. Because in younger individuals the intact iliotibial band is a strong restraint against varus deformity, we seek to correct to 3-degrees to 5-degrees of valgus in these patients. Of 172 cases treated with this technique between 1982 and 1986, 50 patients were retrospectively rev iewed. After a follow-up period of 6 months to 3 years, pain was relie ved in 46 patients. Complications consisted of 5 secondary wound heali ngs, including 2 superficial infections, 1 tibial plateau fracture, an d 3 varus recurrences.