Correction of posttraumatic varus and valgus knee deformities using the Taylor Spatial Frame / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes and correction accuracy of posttraumatic varus and valgus knee deformities using the Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF).Methods From June 2006 to December 2010,26 patients with posttraumatic varus and valgus knee deformities who had been treated with the TSF combined with less invasive high tibial osteotomy (HTO) or supracondylar femur osteotomy (SFO) were retrospectively analyzed,including 19 males and 7 females with an average age of 39 years.There were 20 cases of posttraumatic varus knees and 6 valgus knees.Twenty one patients were treated with HTO and 3 with SFO,2 with HTO and SFO simultaneously.During the operation,the TSF was firstly assembled and then the parameters of the frame were measured followed by less invasive percutaneous osteotomy.Correction was started seven to ten days after the operation following the time schedule provided by the computer program.Correction of the struts were performed 3 times per day,with a total movement of 0-3 mm.Results Through 7-35 days frame adjustments,20 cases of deformities were fully corrected.X-ray showed that the mechanical axis deviations of the tibia and femur all were recovered to normal range,and the deformity of rotation,angulation and crispation were fully corrected.Six cases had residual slight angulation or crispation deformity ( ＜ 4° or ＜ 10 mm).Through the second 4-10 days frame adjustments,these 6 cases of deformities were fully corrected finally.New bone formation and consolidation on the osteotomy site were good.The fixators were removed from 2.5-6.0 months after surgery and the appearance of the limbs and the patients' gait recovered to normal and the keen pain disappeared.All patients were followed up for 12-60 months and without the recurrence of the deformity.Eleven cases occured pin site infection and were controlled by use of the sensitive antibiotics.One case occured refracture of the distal femur osteotomy site 1.5 months after frame removal.Through conservative treatment,the fracture finally healed.Conclusion Posttraumatic varus and valgus knee deformities can be effectively corrected by using TSF and with a high accuracy.