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The Role of Alignment in Meniscal Tears and the Role of Osteotomy

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The Menisci

Abstract

A key component of the pathophysiology and subsequent treatment of meniscal tears and dysfunction is the axial alignment of the lower limb. Degenerative meniscal tears have been shown to correlate with the presence of malalignment, particularly in the medial compartment, with meniscectomy having been shown to often result in the rapid progression of osteoarthritis. This chapter will focus on the relationship of meniscus pathology and alignment and how realignment osteotomy plays an important role in off-loading the meniscus-deficient knee compartment. This can either be accomplished by correcting the alignment on either the tibial or femoral sides, depending upon where the primary deformity exists.

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Correspondence to Alan Getgood MPhil, MD, FRCS(Tr and Orth) .

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Dhollander, A., Getgood, A. (2017). The Role of Alignment in Meniscal Tears and the Role of Osteotomy. In: LaPrade, R., Arendt, E., Getgood, A., Faucett, S. (eds) The Menisci. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53792-3_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53792-3_11

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