Objective To explore the technique of the soft tissue balancing inthe total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the patients with the knees of varus deformity and flexion contracture. Methods From January 2001 to December 2005, 86 patients (19 males, 67 females; age, 57-78 years;average, 66 years) with the knees of varus deformity and flexion contracture underwent primary TKA and the balancing of the soft tissues. All the patients had suffered from osteoarthritis. The unibilateral affection was found in 68 patients and the bilateral affection in 18. The varus deformity angle was averaged 12.3° (range, 6-34°). The soft tissue varus accounted for 56.7% and the bony varus accounted for 43.3%. The flexion contracture lt; 10° was found in 21 knees, 10-19° in 45 knees, 20-29° in 22 knees, and gt;30° in 16 knees, with an average angle of 18.9°. Results The flexion contractures were improved. Before operation the average angle ofthe flexion contracture was 18.9° but after operation only 4 patients had a residual flexion contracture of 5° and the remaining patients had a complete correction. The follow-up for 37 months (range, 6-72 months) in all the patients revealed that only 6 patients had a residual flexion contracture of 5-10° and the others had a full extension. Before operation the average varus angle was 12.3°(range, 6-34°) and the average tibiofemoral angle was 174.7° (range, 70.3-175.6°), but after operation the residual varus angle gt; 3° was only found in 2 patients. The complications occurring during operation and after operation were found in 6 patients, injuries to the attachment of the medial collateral ligaments in 2, patellar clunk syndromes in 2, cerebral embolism in 1, and lacunar infarction in 1, with no nerve disorders left after the medical treatment. No skin necrosis, the cut edge infection or deep infection occurred. Conclusion The balancing of the soft tissues is a major management for correction of the varus deformity and the flexion contracture. The proper balancing of the softtissues can achieve an obvious recovery of the function and correction of the varus deformity after TKA.
【Abstract】 Objective To make the young patients with osteoarthritis and genu varum of knee delay total knee arthroplasty,to observe the cl inical effect of mosaicplasty of femoral medial condyle, patellar-plasty and high tibial osteotomy inthe treatment of osteoarthritis of knee with varum. Methods From June 2004 to February 2006, 8 patients with osteoarthritisof knee with varum(10 knees) were treated with combined operation such as mosaicplasty of femoral medial condyle, patellarplastyand high tibial osteotomy. There were 2 males with 3 knees, and 6 females with 7 knees,with an average age of 50 years(42-56 years). The left knees and right knees were involved in 3 cases respectively and bilateral knees in 2 cases. All patients hadknee ache after walk or long-time standing. The X-ray showed hyperosteogeny at peri-patella and circum ferential femur-tibialjoint，especially in the medial. The gap between patella and femur narrowed or disappeared，especially in the medial femurtibialjoint. The femoral tibial angel (FTA) was 185-200°(mean 190°). The HSS score of knee was 55-75(mean 60). The history ofknee ache was 1-12 years(mean 5 years). Results All patients were followed up for 7-24 months (mean 15 months). All theincisions healed by first intention, no early compl ication occurred. The cl inical bone heal ing time was 8-11 weeks(mean 9 weeks).Rectification of FTA was 15-30°(mean 20°). Normal weight-loading al ignment was recovered. The valgus angle of knee was 10°.The range of motion of knee was 100-120° after operation, increasing by 5-20° (mean 10°) when compared with preoperation.The X-ray of postoperation showed that genu varum was corrected obviously and that no displacement, loosening and breakageoccurred. The mean score of HSS was 80 (75-88), increasing by 20 when compared with preoperation. Conclusion Mosaicplastyof femoral medial condyle can make articular cartilage repair in certain degrees, patellar-plasty can rel ieve ache of fore region of knee effectively, and high tibial osteotomy can recover normal weight-loading al ignment. The curative effect is good withthe combined methods.