ABSTRACT
Background: Few studies have evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) in patients who had previously undergone arthroscopic meniscectomy. Purpose: To verify whether previous arthroscopic meniscectomy affects the clinical and radiological outcomes of MOWHTO. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 183 consecutive knees that underwent MOWHTO and had a minimum 5 years of follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. We compared the preoperative and postoperative clinical and radiological data of 32 knees with a history of meniscectomy (previous meniscectomy group) to 151 control knees without a history of meniscectomy. Cartilage status was also compared at first- and second-look arthroscopic surgery according to the International Cartilage Repair Society grading system. Failure was defined as conversion to total knee arthroplasty or revision MOWHTO. On subgroup analysis, the previous meniscectomy group was divided into 2 subgroups based on the time from meniscectomy to MOWHTO (<3 vs ≥3 years). Results: The mean age at the time of surgery was 55.9 years (range, 38-70 years), and the mean follow-up period was 86.2 months (range, 60-164 months). The mean time between meniscectomy and MOWHTO was 48.9 months (range, 5-156 months), and all meniscectomy procedures were performed on the medial side. Preoperative patient characteristics were similar between the study groups. Clinical and radiological outcomes were not significantly different between the groups at the latest follow-up, and no significant between-group differences were observed regarding postoperative cartilage status on arthroscopic examination. One knee in the control group underwent conversion to total knee arthroplasty at 7 years postoperatively for arthritic progression. Subgroup analysis of the previous meniscectomy group indicated no significant differences in clinical outcomes based on the time from meniscectomy to MOWHTO. Conclusion: Based on the results, a history of meniscectomy did not adversely affect the midterm to long-term outcomes of MOWHTO. Furthermore, the time between previous meniscectomy and MOWHTO was not associated with the clinical outcomes of MOWHTO.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of AR/IF and meniscus repair for treating lateral meniscus (LM) tears associated with lateral tibial plateau fractures and to identify the factors associated with LM tear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients with lateral plateau fractures (Schatzker types II and III) treated by AR/IF were included retrospectively. Radiographic evaluations using the Rasmussen system and computerized tomography (CT) were performed. Clinical evaluations were also conducted at final follow-up. Second-look arthroscopy was applied during metal removal. RESULTS: All fractures were healed after 46.3 months of follow-up. The mean Tegner activity level was not decreased significantly, going from 7.1 ± 2.1 pre-injury to 6.6 ± 2.3 at final follow-up (p = 0.301). However, the amount of depression noted on CT imaging was significantly decreased from 8.9 mm ± 4.4 to 1.2 mm ± 1.3 (p = 0.000). The mean Rasmussen radiologic score at final follow-up was 14.5 ± 5.3 points. Osteoarthritis was progressed in six patients (14.3%). Twenty-five patients had concomitant LM tear, with 18 cases treated by repair and the remaining ones treated by partial meniscectomy. Preoperative joint depression (> 11 mm) was significantly associated with the risk of LM tear (p = 0.024; odds ratio (OR): 9.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.018-79.545) and most of those lesions could be repaired (p = 0.001). Postoperatively, 16 repaired patients were evaluated by second-look arthroscopy; 15 had healed completely and one had healed partially. CONCLUSION: LM tears are frequently combined with lateral tibial plateau fracture, especially in correlation with more than 11 mm of joint depression, though most of those lesions can be repaired at the time of fracture fixation. AR/IF with arthroscopic meniscus repair could achieve good clinical and radiographic outcomes when treating Schatzker types II and III tibial plateau fractures. STUDY DESIGN: Level IV retrospective cohort study.