Upper Tibial Osteotomy for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

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Abstract

Upper tibial osteotomy is a classical chapter in the great book of Orthopaedic surgery techniques. Despite the development and the popularity of partial and total knee replacement, osteotomy remains an excellent alternative to treat osteoarthritis with conservative surgery. It is easier to correct an axial lower limb deviation with an osteotomy than with a joint prosthesis. Furthermore, after an osteotomy, conversion to partial or total knee replacement is always possible. The bone stock is preserved which is not guaranted in cases of knee prosthesis revision.

Around the knee, osteotomies can be performed in the frontal, sagittal and transverse planes. Two or three planes can be corrected and be combined in one procedure.

The varus knee is the most frequent axis deviation encountered in knee osteoarthritis. Its correction by a valgization osteotomy is possible with a lateral closed-wedge or a medial open-wedge approach.

The diagnosis, imaging, planning and operative techniques are exposed.

Keywords

Aetiology Anatomy Assessing angular correction Biomechanics Classification Conservative surgery, analysis and planning, Surgical Techniques Knee Lower limb axis deviation Osteoarthritis Surgical indications 
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References

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Copyright information

© EFORT 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Hôpital de La TourMeyrinSwitzerland

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