Midterm follow-up of closing wedge high tibial osteotomy with upper tibiofibular joint capsulotomy.

Abstract

Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy is a popular surgery for correcting varus knee in symptomatic patients. One of the major drawbacks of this method is complications related to fibular osteotomy. This study describes pearl and pitfalls of closing wedge high tibial osteotomy with upper tibiofibular joint capsulotomy, avoiding fibular osteotomy and proposes that it has less complications and better results. Closing wedge high tibial osteotomy with upper tibiofibular joint capsulotomy was carried on 34 knees (19 patients) between September 2011 and June 2015 (thirteen males and six females). Operated men were between 19 and 38 years with mean 21 years. Operated women were between 23 years and 51 years. Considering that only one woman was 23 years old and the other four were between 45 and 51, better results and fewer complications were obtained in younger individuals with less body mass index and milder deformities. As a conclusion, when selecting patients, it is vital to stick to inclusion criteria. When in two or more factors, the patient is close to upper limits of inclusion criteria, unsatisfactory outcomes might be expected.