title: External fixation in proximal tibial osteotomy: a comparison of three methods.
abstract: During a period of 6 years (1990-1996), 154 patients with unilateral gonarthrosis underwent proximal tibial osteotomy using 3 different methods of external fixation: (1) closing wedge osteotomy and bilateral fixation; (2) closing wedge osteotomy with unilateral fixation, and (3) opening wedge osteotomy with unilateral fixation. The most common complications were pin-tract infection (25%), temporary nerve palsy (10%), and loss of alignment (17%). At least one complication developed in 33% of patients in this study, indicating that the use and technique of external fixation in proximal tibial osteotomy can be problematic.
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Universitätsklinik, Schlierbacher Landstrasse, 200a, D-69118 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Geiger
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lukoschek
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ewerbeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome