Abstract
Opening wedge proximal tibial osteotomy has become more popular in recent years, particularly in the management of medial compartment osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, fixation failures and/or non-unions of this osteotomy still occur.
The aim of this study is to review two cases of failed opening wedge osteotomies salvaged with the Taylor Spatial frame.
Both cases were reviewed clinically and radiographically and an analysis of their deformity was carried out. If required, metalware was removed and the Spatial frame applied and the deformity gradually corrected with either repeat osteotomy (case 1) or distraction of the non-union (case 2) until ideal alignment had been achieved. When the osteotomy regenerate had satisfactorily hardened, the frame was removed, and the patients were initially protected in a range of motion brace.
Both patients achieved the desired correction of their deformities and union of their osteotomies, and had the frames removed at an average of 124 days following application.
The Taylor Spatial frame is a very powerful tool for correcting complex multi-apical deformities in the juxta-articular region of the proximal tibia through minimally invasive techniques.
The abstracts were prepared by Editorial Secretary Jean-Claude Theis. Correspondence should be addressed to NZOA at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dunedin Hospital, Private Bag 1921, Dunedin, New Zealand.
