Osteotomy of the Tibial Tubercle in difficult Total Knee Arthroplasty

ABSTRACT

Exposure with the tibial tubercle osteotomy was done for ten revisions and one primary total knee replacements out of 200 total knee arthroplasties performed from 1985 to 1996. The cases were analyzed with regard to complications and technical considerations. The preoperative diagnoses were infected total knee arthroplasty in seven, aseptic loosening in three and one ankylosed knee. Eixtensive exposure was achieved enough for debridement and reimplantation. The tubercle was fixed with two or three 3.5mm screws. The average duration of follow up was 30 months. Post operative knee flexion averaged 87 degrees. There were two complications, one avulsion of the fragment and one tibial fracture. The advantage of this procedure included wide exposure for difficult knee surgeries and more proximal fixation for improved flexion.