A Case Report & Literature Review Concurrent Opening Wedge Osteotomy The Role of and Total Knee Replacement in a Patient Aspirin With Posttraumatic Arthritis and a Varus Keith R Tibial Malunion Amit Lahav, MD, and Frank R. DiMaio, MD ombined extra-articular deformity of the tibia flexion contracture was seen. A rigid varus deformity was along with osteoarthritis of the knee joint can pre- present that did not correct with valgus stress testing at 30°, sent a challenging reconstructive procedure for the 60°, or 90° of flexion. Her neurologic and vascular examina- orthopedic surgeon. The knee can be approached tions were unremarkable. A true leg-length discrepancy of Cwith staged procedures or via a 1-stage approach for full 9 mm was measured from the anterior superior iliac spine correction of the deformity and alignment at the time of to the medial malleoli, with the affected left lower extremity joint arthroplasty. We present a case of concurrent open- shorter than the right one. Her gait pattern was poor because ing wedge tibial osteotomy and total knee arthroplasty for of this discrepancy, and a lateral tibial thrust was seen. the correction of a severe varus deformity in the presence of an extra-articular tibial deformity, medial compartment Radiographs arthritis, and a leg-length discrepancy. This report presents Radiographs (Figures 1 and 2), including standing antero- another option for a single-stage operative procedure while posterior and lateral views of the left knee, revealed a 12° combining technologies to address posttraumatic arthritis varus deformity of the knee, bone-on-bone articulation of with tibial deformity. the medial compartment with medial tibial bone loss, mar- ginal osteophytes globally, and a 20° varus malunion of the CASE REPORT tibia. Standing Bell-Thompson radiographs were used to History measure a 12° varus anatomic axis (Figure 3). A woman in her mid 40s presented with chronic left knee pain and deformity after being involved in a motor vehicle Procedure accident and sustaining a closed, proximal tibial shaft frac- The patient was taken to the operating room, and she ture more than 20 years prior to presentation; the fracture underwent simultaneous medial opening wedge tibial oste- had been treated in a long leg cast for 3 months. The patient otomy and cemented left total knee replacement. Spinal stated that she has a progressive “bowed” leg deformity and anesthesia was administered, and the patient received severe medial knee pain. Her left knee symptoms prohibited her from working and performing activities of daily living. Physical Examination Upon physical examination, she had measured active range of motion of her left knee from 0° to 125° with no appar- ent collateral or cruciate ligamentous instability noted. No Dr. DiMaio is Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Chief, Division of Adult Joint Reconstruction, Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, New York. Dr. Lahav is Assistant Clinical Instructor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, SUNY Health Science Center at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York. Requests for reprints: Frank R. DiMaio, MD, Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chief, Division of Adult Joint Reconstruction, Winthrop University Hospital, 259 First St, Mineola, NY 11501 (tel, 516-663-4798; fax, 516-663-3015; e-mail, [email protected]). Figure 1. Preoperative antero- Figure 2. Preoperative lateral Am J Orthop. 2007;36(8):E121-123. Copyright Quadrant posterior x-ray film of the left x-ray film of the left knee. HealthCom Inc. 2007. All rights reserved. knee. August 2007 E121 Concurrent Opening Wedge Osteotomy and TKR Figure 3. Preoperative stand- Figure 4. Preoperative cutout Figure 5. Two years postop- Figure 6. Two years postop- ing Bell-Thompson x-ray film plans. erative anteroposterior x-ray erative lateral x-ray film of the (close-up). film of the left knee. left knee. preoperative administration of antibiotics. The left leg was prepared and draped in the usual sterile fashion. A tourni- Postoperative Course quet was used. Postoperatively, the patient remained non–weight bear- The knee was approached using a midline incision with a ing and was placed in a collateral knee brace. A standard paramedial patella arthrotomy. As the knee arthroplasty por- postoperative continuous passive motion machine regimen tion of the procedure was initiated, femoral preparation was was used. Weight bearing was advanced upon radiographic completed first, using standard technique with the Natural evidence of healing of the osteotomy site over 6 weeks. Knee II instrumentation (Zimmer, Warsaw, Ind). The distal At 5 years the patient had active range of motion of 0° to femoral resection was 11 mm in 6° of valgus. 122° and a stable knee to varus and valgus stress testing; no Next, tibial preparation was completed with an extra- anteroposterior instability was appreciated; no leg-length medullary tibial cutting guide. Referencing off the lateral inequality was measured. tibia was performed in preparation for a 13-mm proxi- Two-year follow-up radiographs revealed healing of the mal tibial resection made perpendicular to the proximal osteotomy and correction of alignment (Figures 5 and 6). tibial anatomy in 5° of posterior inclination. This resection adequately bottomed the medial tibial defect. The tibial DISCUSSION preparation tray was fixed to the cut surface of the tibia Total knee replacement can be complicated by extra-articu- in slight external rotation. Peg drill hole preparation was lar deformity, necessitating additional procedures in order then performed. Tissue balancing was then completed with to obtain proper anatomic and mechanical alignment of the a medial sleeve release at the level of the medial joint line limb. Posttraumatic deformity frequently requires careful only; the pes tendons did not require release. Trial compo- evaluation of bone loss because of malunion or nonunion. nents were inserted at this time, and the knee was extended Identification of the deformity at the joint line, metaphy- for patella preparation. sis, or diaphysis is paramount in determining its effect on Next, the proximal tibial malunion was exposed via a extremity alignment. This dilemma can be approached small medial incision. A 15° uniplanar opening wedge with staged procedures or via a 1-stage approach for full osteotomy was performed just distal to the tibial tubercle correction of the deformity and alignment at the time of using the Arthrex system (Naples, Fla). Fluoroscopy was joint arthroplasty. used during the osteotomy. This type of osteotomy allowed This report presents a patient with a metaphyseal- for correction of the 20° malunion of the tibia at this level diaphyseal malunion of a tibial fracture (20°), which as seen on the preoperative cutouts (Figure 4). In addition, predisposed this patient to eventual medial compart- 10 mm of lengthening was expected via this 15° opening ment arthritis. Although more traditional approaches to wedge that addressed the leg-length discrepancy. Autograft this knee reconstruction were considered, the surgeons from the distal femoral resections was used as bone graft believed that a 20° deformity this close to the joint line at the osteotomy site. Rigid internal fixation was achieved, and the measured 9-mm leg-length inequality prohibited and intramedullary fixation was avoided. Only a resurfac- correction via a large proximal tibial resection. This ing of tibial component was necessary as a cemented total simpler approach certainly would not have addressed the knee arthroplasty was completed. patient’s limb length. E122 The American Journal of Orthopedics® A. Lahav and F. R. DiMaio Leg-length discrepancy is another issue that must be In addition, concerns regarding the strength of the open addressed when considering osteotomies for correction wedge osteotomy site fixation device, as discussed by of malalignment. Open wedge versus closing wedge Stuart and colleagues,7 may lead one to reconsider the osteotomies can alter leg length significantly and alter the use of our technique. Certainly, intramedullary fixation is mechanics of the limb and soft-tissue tension and laxity. mechanically superior and usually allows for immediate The presented patient had a concurrent ipsilateral leg- weight bearing. For this reason, this patient was forbidden length inequality, making an opening wedge osteotomy to bear weight until evidence of osteotomy healing was more appealing. A closing wedge osteotomy would have noted radiographically. further shortened the extremity at the time of the defor- mity correction. In addition, the patella-femoral mechanics CONCLUSIONS were preserved without infrapatellar shortening or patella This case presents another option addressing posttraumatic baja so often seen with closing wedge osteotomies.1,2 This arthritis with tibial malunion and leg-length discrepancy: opening wedge technique was performed below the level a single-stage reconstruction using an opening wedge tib- of the tibial tubercle attachment of the infrapatellar tendon, ial osteotomy and a resurfacing tibial component without therefore avoiding this issue. a keel. Wang and Wang3 have shown that total knee arthroplasty in conjunction with intra-articular bone resection is an AUTHORS’ DISCLOSURE STATEMENT effective procedure for arthritis and extra-articular defor- Dr. Lahav reports no actual or potential conflict of interest mity. Radke and Radke4 have also shown that total knee in relation to this article. Dr. DiMaio wishes to note that arthroplasty in combination with a 1-stage tibial osteotomy he is a surgical consultant to Zimmer Holdings, Warsaw, had good results. Another option to consider includes a Indiana. diaphyseal osteotomy with intramedullary stem fixation, but this osteotomy type may have a higher risk of nonunion REFERENCES or other complications.5,6 The use of a long-stemmed tibial 1. Scuderi GR, Windsor RE, Insall JN. Observations on patellar component was considered in this case. Traditionally, these height after proximal tibial osteotomy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1989;71(2):245-248. devices work best with simple transverse osteotomies or 2. Westrich GH, Peters LE, Haas SB, Buly RL, Windsor RE. Patella step-cut osteotomies.