title: Quality of life in patients with varus gonarthrosis treated with high tibial osteotomy using the circular external fixator.
abstract: Generally, surgeon-driven musculoskeletal evaluation systems are used for evaluating outcomes of patients who are treated with high tibial osteotomy. In this study, we investigated the effects of high tibial osteotomy using circular external fixator on quality of life. Twenty-one high tibial osteotomy of 19 patients were evaluated. Quality of life assessment was made using Short Form -36 at preoperative, before fixator removal and 6 months after fixator removal. After applying fixator, the physical function and physical role scores of Short Form-36 decreased and emotional role score did not improve. In other categories, significant improvements were observed when fixator in place. At the sixth month after fixator removal, significant improvements were dedected in all categories of Short Form-36. Although there was a decrease in physical functions after fixator application in patients who were treated with high tibial osteotomy using circular external fixator, significant improvement occurred in quality of life after fixator removal.
authors.affiliation: Department Orthopedics and Traumatology, Medical School of Gaziosmanpasa University, 60100 Tokat, Turkey. drtgunes@gmail.com
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bostan
authors.forename: Kursad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yeniel
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery