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A protective hinge wire, intersecting the osteotomy plane, can reduce the occurrence of perioperative hinge fractures in medial opening wedge osteotomy

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  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

A recent study reported that positioning a K-wire to intersect the cutting plane at the theoretical lateral hinge location increases the lateral hinge’s resistance to fracture during the opening of opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical relevance of the use of this K-wire and its benefits in terms of lateral hinge protection during OWHTO in daily practice.

Methods

A retrospective comparative study identified 206 patients who underwent OWHTO from January 2014 to December 2017. Among these patients, 71 had an additional K-wire (HK + group), whereas 135 did not (HK− group). The subjects meeting the inclusion criteria were included in a matched pairing process, which identified 60 patients in the HK + group and 60 patients in the HK– group. Mean follow-up time was 2.3 ± 1.0 years (range 2–4.2). Radiographic outcomes were evaluated with intraoperative and postoperative fluoroscopic imaging and with CT imaging at 6 weeks post OWHTO surgery. The knee osteoarthritis outcomes score (KOOS) was used and time needed to return to work and any kind of sports was collected.

Results

Thirty six patients (30%) were found to have a LHF. Among these patients, 26 (72%) did not have an additional K-wire positioned at their theoretical lateral hinge location (HK− group) during the procedure. LHF rate for patients without additional K-wire group (HK−) was 43.3%, whereas it was 16.7% for the patients with an additional K-wire (HK +) [Odd ratio 3.8 95% CI 1.6–8.3; p = 0.005]. The mean time to return to work, return to any kind of sports, and bone union was significantly shorter for HK + group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that during OWHTO, positioning a K-wire intersecting the cutting plane at the theoretical lateral hinge location reduced the number of intraoperative lateral hinge fractures.

Level of evidence

III retrospective case–control study.

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Funding

No funding was required for this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Movement and Locomotion Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, St Marguerite Hospital, 270 Boulevard Sainte Marguerite, BP 29, 13274, Marseille, France

    Firat Gulagaci, Christophe Jacquet, Akash Sharma, Kristian Kley, Sebastien Parratte & Matthieu Ollivier

  2. Service de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie, CHU Hautepierre, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 Avenue Molière, 67098, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    Matthieu Ehlinger

  3. APHM, CNRS, ISM, Sainte-Marguerite Hospital, Institute for Locomotion, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France

    Firat Gulagaci, Christophe Jacquet, Akash Sharma, Kristian Kley, Sebastien Parratte & Matthieu Ollivier

  4. The Institute for Locomotion, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France

    Firat Gulagaci, Christophe Jacquet, Akash Sharma, Kristian Kley, Sebastien Parratte & Matthieu Ollivier

  5. The Wellington Hospital, Wellington Place, St. John’s Wood, London, UK

    Adrian Wilson

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  1. Firat Gulagaci
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  7. Sebastien Parratte
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Contributions

CJ and FG have made substantial contributions to acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data. ME, AS, KK, AW, and SP have been involved in drafting the manuscript or revising it critically. MO has made substantial contributions to conception and design or acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data. Every author has given final approval of the version to be published and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matthieu Ollivier.

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Some of the authors disclosed potential conflict of interest.

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Local ethics committee approved our study protocol prior to investigation.

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Gulagaci, F., Jacquet, C., Ehlinger, M. et al. A protective hinge wire, intersecting the osteotomy plane, can reduce the occurrence of perioperative hinge fractures in medial opening wedge osteotomy. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 28, 3173–3182 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-019-05806-7

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