Abstract
Introduction: Distal femoral varus osteotomy (DFVO) has been advocated as the treatment of choice for lateral compartment osteoarthritis associated with a valgus knee in the young population in order to delay the need for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of DFVO for the valgus osteoarthritic knee.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 38consecutive patients (40 knees) who underwent a DFVO between 1984 and 2001. Two patients (2 knees) were lost to follow-up. Mean follow up was 123 months (range 39 to 245 months). Peri-operative documentation was evaluated for etiology, pre-operative functional and subjective impairment, intra-operative technical difficulties or complications, early and late post-operative complications and post-operative functional and subjective outcomes.
Results: At the time of the most recent follow-up, 24 knees had good or excellent result, 3 knees had a fair result and 3 had poor results. The remaining 8 knees were converted to a total knee arthroplasty. The mean Knee Society objective score improved from 18 (range, 0–74) to 87.2 (range, 50–100) and the mean Knee Society function score improved from 54 (range, 0–100) to 85.6 (range, 40–100). The ten-year survival rate of DFVO was 82% (95% confidence interval, 75%–89%) and the fifteen-year survival rate was 45% (95% confidence interval, 33%–57%).
Discussion: With proper patient selection, DFVO is a reliable procedure for the treatment of the valgus osteoarthritic knee. This procedure delays the need for further surgical procedures, such as TKA, with good results.
The abstracts were prepared by Orah Naor, IOA Co-ordinator and Secretary. Correspondence should be addressed to Israel Orthopaedic Association, PO Box 7845, Haifa 31074, Israel.
