Ten-year survival rate of 89% after distal femoral osteotomy surgery for lateral compartment osteoarthritis of the knee.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy, safety, and survival of distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) surgery for lateral compartment OA of the knee. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single UK centre, using prospectively collected data over an 8-year period (2009-2017). All patients had pre-operative radiographic analysis and digital planning of their deformity correction in addition to post-operative analysis of the achieved correction and yearly face-to-face follow-up. Complications (defined as an undesirable medical or surgical event as a direct result of the operation), reoperations, and failure (defined as conversion to arthroplasty or revision) were recorded. RESULTS: From a total of 83 patients, 81 patients undergoing 86 primary DFOs were included in this study, with a mean follow-up of 99 months (SD 27 months). The mean pre-operative percentage Mikulicz point was 78.7% (SD 19.1%) and post-operative 35.9% (SD 14.8%). The mean accuracy of correction (intended correction - achieved correction) was an 8.2% overcorrection (SD 13.7%). The complication rate was 4.7%. Using Kaplan-Meier analysis, the mean survival was 113 months (95% CI 106-120) with the probability of surviving 10 years 89%. CONCLUSION: DFO for valgus alignment and lateral compartment arthritis is associated with low complications, long-term joint preservation, and the prevention of arthroplasty surgery. However, the accuracy of correction still requires improvement in intra-operative technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

TransMedial All-Inside Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using a Reinforced Tibial Inlay Graft.

Surgical reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) is technically demanding. Potential challenges include visualization of the tibial footprint and drilling of the tibial tunnel without damaging posterior neurovascular structures, as well as graft selection, deployment, tensioning, and fixation. We present a novel TransMedial all-inside arthroscopic technique (technique designed by A. J. Wilson with support from Arthrex) using a single hamstring tendon graft, fixed with adjustable cortical suspensory devices. The technique simplifies the difficult steps encountered during PCL reconstruction and is safe and reproducible. All arthroscopic viewing is accomplished from the lateral portal, and femoral socket preparation is performed from the medial side with specially contoured instruments, which allow accurate marking, measuring, and anatomic positioning of the graft. The quadrupled semitendinosus graft can be augmented with composite polymer tape for increased strength and initial stability. We use outside-in drilling to create retrograde femoral and tibial sockets. Cortical suspensory fixation on the tibial side can be supplemented with anchor fixation. We use an arthroscopic tibial inlay technique that better approximates native knee anatomy. This also avoids the "killer turn," a problem seen in transtibial PCL reconstruction techniques, which theoretically induces graft laxity due to abrasion with cyclic loading. This technique can be further adapted to allow a modified double-bundle or TriLink graft (technique designed by A. J. Wilson with support from Arthrex.).