The outcome of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) deteriorates
with time, and additional procedures may be required. The aim of
this study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes
between unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) and total knee replacement
(TKR) after HTO as well as after primary UKR. A total of 63 patients (63
knees) were studied retrospectively and divided into three groups:
UKR after HTO (group A; n = 22), TKR after HTO (group B; n = 18)
and primary UKR (group C; n = 22). The Oxford knee score (OKS),
Knee Society score (KSS), hip–knee–ankle angles, mechanical axis
and patellar height were evaluated pre- and post-operatively. At
a mean of 64 months (19 to 180) post-operatively the mean OKS was
43.8 (33 to 49), 43.3 (30 to 48) and 42.5 (29 to 48) for groups
A, B and C, respectively (p = 0.73). The mean KSS knee score was
88.8 (54 to 100), 88.11 (51 to 100) and 85.3 (45 to 100) for groups
A, B and C, respectively (p = 0.65), and the mean KSS function score
was 85.0 (50 to 100) in group A, 85.8 (20 to 100) in group B and
79.3 (50 to 100) in group C (p = 0.48). Radiologically the results
were comparable for all groups except for patellar height, with
a higher incidence of patella infra following a previous HTO (p
= 0.02). Cite this article:
This review considers the surgical treatment
of displaced fractures involving the knee in elderly, osteoporotic patients.
The goals of treatment include pain control, early mobilisation,
avoidance of complications and minimising the need for further surgery.
Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) frequently results in
loss of reduction, which can result in post-traumatic arthritis
and the occasional conversion to total knee replacement (TKR). TKR
after failed internal fixation is challenging, with modest functional
outcomes and high complication rates. TKR undertaken as treatment
of the initial fracture has better results to late TKR, but does
not match the outcome of primary TKR without complications. Given
the relatively infrequent need for late TKR following failed fixation,
ORIF is the preferred management for most cases. Early TKR can be
considered for those patients with pre-existing arthritis, bicondylar
femoral fractures, those who would be unable to comply with weight-bearing restrictions,
or where a single definitive procedure is required.
The management of osteoarthritis of the knee associated with patellar instability secondary to external tibial torsion >
45° is challenging. Patellofemoral biomechanics in these patients cannot be achieved by intra-articular correction using standard techniques of total knee replacement. We reviewed seven patients (eight knees) with recurrent patellar dislocation and one with bilateral irreducible lateral dislocation who had undergone simultaneous total knee replacement and internal tibial derotational osteotomy. All had osteoarthritis and severe external tibial torsion. The mean follow-up was for 47.2 months (24 to 120). The mean objective and functional Knee Society scores improved significantly (p = 0.0001) from 29.7 and 41.5 pre-operatively to 71.4 and 73.5 post-operatively, respectively. In all patients the osteotomies healed and patellar stability was restored. Excessive external tibial torsion should be identified and corrected in patients with osteoarthritis and patellar instability. Simultaneous internal rotation osteotomy of the tibia and total knee replacement is a technically demanding but effective treatment for such patients.
