Purpose: The aim of this study is the evaluation of the results of the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in varus knee with high tibial osteotomy.
Method: Between 1985 – 1991, 54 patients (62 cases) were treated with high tibial osteotomy, which was fixed with A. Renieri technique. The patients were divided in three groups:
- patients who were further treated with TKR
- patients who died without any further surgical treatment
- patients who are still alive and were treated only with high tibial osteotomy
Our study showed that 15 patients (19 cases) needed TKR within mean time 7 years from the osteotomy, 14 patients(15 cases) died without any further surgical treatment in mean time 9 years from the osteotomy and 25 patients (28 cases) who are still alive were treated only with high tibial osteotomy and twelve years later the results are good in 66% and poor in 34%.
Results: As shown from our study high tibial osteotomy with correction of the knee axis and changes of the weight bearing helped in the treatment of pain and delayed the development of knee osteoarthritis in 39 patients (43 cases), who are still alive or died without any further operation after the osteotomy. 15 patients (19 cases) needed TKR after 7 years mean time.
Conclusions: Despite the satisfactory results of TKR, osteoarthritis of knee can be treated with high tibial osteotomy mainly in younger patients, so that TKR if needed, can be performed later. The operation is relatively easy with less complication rate and does not impend the possible TKR later.
