Long-term results of the subtubercle tibial osteotomy using the circular external fixator for medı̇al compartment osteoarthrı̇tı̇s of knee

We evaluated the long-term clinical and radiographic outcomes of patients who underwent subtubercular tibial osteotomy (STO) with Ilizarov external fixation used for high tibial osteotomy for medial knee osteoarthritis (MKOA).

Between October 2003 and December 2011, 42 knees of 40 patients who had undergone STO with Ilizarov external fixator with a diagnosis of MKOA were evaluated. Survival analysis was performed by examining the duration of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Clinical and radiological variables were collected at the time of admission after removal of the fixator and at outpatient follow up.

Mean age was 49.3 ± 5.68 (range 37–61) years, mean postoperative follow up time was 14.22 ± 2.93 (range 9–18) years, and mean fixator duration was 14.6 (range 13–20) weeks. Survival analysis showed 100% at 5 years, 95.2% at 10 years and 88.1% at 15 years. Clinical examination of the patients showed significant improvement in American Knee Society score (KSS), KSS functional score and Oxford Knee Score (OKS) score (P = 0.005). In the study, it was observed that the patients’ knee osteoarthritis had progressed over time. On examination, radiographic measurements including mechanical axis deviation, medial proximal tibial angle, femorotibial angle, and joint line alignment angle improved significantly after deformity correction (P = 0.001).

STO using the Ilizarov method offers long-term survival. It provides effective treatment in young patients with isolated MKOA. Achieving the desired amount of correction in the coronal and sagittal planes can be presented as a surgical technique for the treatment of MKOA as an effective method in clinical and radiological correction.