Can osteoarthritic patients with mild varus deformity be indicated for high tibial osteotomy?

BACKGROUND: Whether osteoarthritic patients with mild varus deformity can be indicated for high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is not established. We examined the preoperative characteristics and postoperative outcomes of HTO in patients with mild genu varum compared to patients with greater varus deformity. METHODS: Seventy-one patients who underwent HTO were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into either mild varus (MV, mechanical femorotibial angle (mFTA) ≤4°, n = 31 (44%)) and greater varus (GV, mFTA >4°, n = 40 (56%)) groups. Preoperative characteristics on single photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT), magnetic resonance image and radiograph were evaluated. Alignment parameters and functional outcomes were compared pre- and postoperatively between the groups. RESULTS: Preoperative characteristics were similar between the two groups, except the severity of arthritis and coronal alignment. There was no difference in the proportion of hot uptake in the medial compartment; medial meniscus posterior horn root tear, complex or radial tear; bone marrow edema. Full-thickness cartilage defect of medial compartment was more frequent and arthritis grade was also more severe in GV group. Coronal alignment of the MV group was corrected into more valgus than the GV group (4.5° vs. 2.8° in mFTA, P = 0.012). Pre- and postoperative Knee Society knee and function scores were also comparable in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mild varus patients are similar to greater varus patients regarding preoperative features and achieve the comparable functional outcome. A selected subset of osteoarthritic patients with mild varus deformity might be indicated for HTO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III (Retrospective comparative study).

Factors affecting rotator cuff integrity after arthroscopic repair for medium-sized or larger cuff tears: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We wished to identify the preoperative prognostic factors associated with structural integrity after repair of medium-sized and larger rotator cuff tears and to determine the cutoff values using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. METHODS: The study included 180 patients with medium-sized and larger rotator cuff tears. Each had a minimum 2-year postoperative follow-up by magnetic resonance imaging. We assessed several patient-related and disease-related preoperative factors using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. To determine the cutoff value for the significant variables, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed. RESULTS: Retears occurred in 28 of the 180 patients (15.6%). Univariate analysis found that retear was significantly affected by the type of work and pattern of tear. The rate of retear was significantly increased in diabetes and with increasing tear size, extent of retraction, delamination, and fatty infiltration. Furthermore, reduced remnant tendon length, distance from the musculotendinous junction to the face of the glenoid, occupation ratio, and acromiohumeral interval were also significant risk factors. In the multivariate analysis, body mass index, diabetes, dyslipidemia, extent of retraction, delamination, distance from musculotendinous junction to face of glenoid, occupation ratio, fatty infiltration of infraspinatus, and acromiohumeral interval remained significant risk factors. The extent of retraction (22.2 mm) and the occupation ratio (53.5%) showed highly accurate cutoff values for predicting retear. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors influenced the healing process after rotator cuff repair. The best predictors were the extent of retraction and occupation ratio, which could help assist in determining the prognosis after rotator cuff repairs.