Treatment of flexion deformity of the knee joint in adult patients with supracondylar femoral osteotomy and internal fixation / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective] To investigate the results and to evaluate the validity of the supracondylar femoral osteotomy and internal fixation for treatment of flexion deformity of the knee joint in adult polio patients.[Methods]From April 2002 to August 2008,141 knees in 127 cases with flexion deformity of knee from poliomyelitis were treated with supracondylar femoral extension osteotomy and internal fixation.They were 14~45 years old with an average of 18.3.Of them,62 knees in 56 cases were male,79 knees in 71 cases were female.Eighty-three cases needed pressing knee on walking.Thirty-five cases walked with a crutch and 9 cases walked with two crutches.It should be treated with soft tissue release and skeletal traction before osteotomy in severe flexion deformity(over 40 degrees).All cases took weight-bearing X-ray films of lower extremities before and after operation.Angle of knee flexion,operative complications,bone healing and final function were recorded.Patients can undertake continuous passive flexion and extension motion from the 2nd day postoperatively.The knee operated was put in 10~20? flexion after operation and extended to full extension gradually in 2 weeks.[Results]All patients felt comfortable after operation and no neurovscular complications and infection happened.Follow-up time was 12-72 months with an average of 18 months.Solid bone union showed in all femoral cutting ends.No mal-union,non-union and implant failure happened.All flexion deformities of knees were corrected.The angle of flexion contracture of knee was from 36.4?(18?～61?)preoperatively to 2.8?(-5?～8?)postoperatively.The amount of correction was 18?to 56?with an average of 32.9?.One hundred and eight patients can walk stably by hinself or with brace,19 cases still need some help for walking(pressing knee in 6 case,one crutch in 10 cases and two crutches in 3 cases)at last follow-up.No ankylosis of knee joint or peroneal nerve paralysis occurred.All cases were satisfying with their range of motion of knee.[Conclusion]Supracondylar femoral osteotomy and rigid internal fixation and early rehabilitation exercise is a safe and effective strategy for the adult flexion deformity of knee joint.