Abstract
Background:
It has been suggested that double-level osteotomy can prevent the occurrence of joint line obliquity (JLO), as one of the complications following high tibial osteotomy (HTO). In this study, we aimed to compare the preoperative distal femoral and proximal tibial obliquity in patients with primary genu varum with a group of normal subjects (without genu varum).
Materials and methods:
75 patients with primary genu varum and 75 normal persons, contributed to a case-control study. The medial distal femoral mechanical angle (MDFMA), medial proximal tibial mechanical angle (MPTMA), joint diversion angle (JDA) and femoral and tibial JLO were measured and compared between the two groups. The percentage of patients' with > 4 degrees of JLO in both distal of femur and proximal of tibia, were then determined.
Results:
The mean of MDFMA and MPTMA were significantly lower and JDA and femoral and tibial JLO were significantly higherin genu varum group (p < 0.05). Double-level osteotomy was required in 25.3% of patients with genu varum to prevent post-operative JLO.
Conclusion:
JLO is a common finding in patients with genu varum and normal group; however, it is significantly higher in patients with genu varum.
