title: The short-term follow-up results of open wedge high tibial osteotomy with using an Aescula open wedge plate and an allogenic bone graft: the minimum 1-year follow-up results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined the results of open wedge high tibial osteotomy with using an Aescula open wedge plate and an allogenic bone graft as a surgical technique for the patients who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee with a genu varum deformity.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 2007 to August 2007, 33 patients (37 cases) with osteoarthritis of the knee and a genu varum deformity underwent a high tibial osteotomy with using an Aescula open wedge plate and an allogenic bone graft. The patients were followed up for more than 1 year. Before and after surgery, the correction angle of the genu varum was measured by the lower extremity scannogram and the posterior tibial slope, the joint space distance and the time to bone union were evaluated. The functional factors were evaluated using the Knee Society Score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average knee score and function score improved from 52.19 +/- 11.82 to 92.49 +/- 5.10 and 52.84 +/- 6.23 to 89.05 +/- 5.53, respectively (p < 0.001). According to the lower extremity scannogram, the mean preoperative varus angle was -1.86 +/- 2.76 degrees , and the average correction angle at the last follow-up was 10.93 +/- 2.50 degrees (p < 0.001). The tibial posterior slope before surgery and at the last follow-up were 8.20 +/- 1.80 degrees and 8.04 +/- 1.30 degrees , respectively (p = 0.437). The joint space distance increased from 4.05 +/- 1.30 mm to 4.83 +/- 1.33 mm (p < 0.001). The average time to complete bone union was 12.69 +/- 1.5 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An open wedge high tibial osteotomy using an Aescula open wedge plate and an allogeneic bone graft to treat osteoarthritis of the knee with a genu varum deformity showed good results for the precision of the correction angle, the time to bone union and the functional improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mok-dong Himchan Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Su Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Am
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Chang Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Soong Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016916:Joint Deformities, Acquired / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011859:Radiography; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous