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Purpose: The purpose was to describe physical activity with respect to leisure and working activity in patients operated on by high tibial osteotomy using the hemicallotasis technique for knee osteoarthritis (OA), preoperatively and 10 years postoperatively., Methods: Seventy-nine patients, median age 55 (range 35-66), operated on by high tibial osteotomy using the hemicallotasis technique for knee OA 2001-2003 were included. Questionnaires for evaluation of physical and working activity, satisfaction as well as the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were filled in preoperatively and 2 and 10 years postoperatively. Conversion to knee arthroplasty was obtained through the Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register. Changes between two postoperative measurements were assessed by Wilcoxon's rank test., Results: Twenty-five patients were converted to a total knee arthroplasty, and nine patients were lost to follow-up during the 10 years, resulted in 45 patients available for follow-up. Preoperatively, 33/45 patients were physically active mainly in heavy yard/household work, and 43/45 patients were working active. Ten years after the HCO, 23/45 patients were still active with golf, dancing, hiking, etc., and 23/45 were retired. At 10 years postoperatively compared to 2 years postoperatively, the patients experienced more problems with pain (89 compared to 69, p = <0.0001). Of 45 patients, 36 were satisfied with the high tibial osteotomy surgery in general 10 years postoperatively, while 13/45 were satisfied with their sport and recreational function., Conclusions: The 10-year results indicate that high tibial osteotomy using the hemicallotasis technique for knee OA is an option for selected patients that improves the level of physical activity, with mild deterioration over time, and gives the majority of the patients the possibility to be working active until retirement., Level of Evidence: Level IV.

Background and purpose - Patients having a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) after a previous high tibial osteotomy (HTO) constitute a minor group among those undergoing primary TKA for knee osteoarthritis (OA). There have been few reports on whether such patients differ pre- and postoperatively from those who undergo TKA as the first measure. We evaluated patient characteristics, knee-related pain, function, quality of life, and general health before and 1 year after TKA surgery in these 2 groups of patients. Patients and methods - We included 119 HTOs that were operated on for knee OA in the Skåne region, Sweden, in the period1998-2007 and that had been converted to a TKA during 2009-2013 (the C group). We also included 5,013 primary TKAs performed for knee OA in the same region, during the same period, and in patients of the same age range (42-82 years) (the P group). The patients were evaluated with the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the EQ-VAS preoperatively and 1 year after the TKA surgery, when they were also asked about their satisfaction with the surgery. Case-mix variables available were Charnley category, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). Results - Most of the HTOs were performed using open-wedge osteotomy with external fixation (81 of 119). Compared to the P group, the patients in the C group were more often men, were younger, and were healthier (according to the ASA classification). With respect to pre- and postoperative knee-related pain, function, quality of life, and general health, the 2 groups had similar mean values without any statistically significant differences. A similar proportion of patients in the 2 groups were satisfied with the surgery 1 year postoperatively (82% vs. 80%). Interpretation - Our findings indicate that HTO is a reasonable alternative for delaying TKA surgery in younger and/or physically active OA patients.

Purpose: Knee osteotomy is a joint preserving surgery with new techniques and implants introduced during recent years. However the information of its use and outcome is scarce. A national knee osteotomy register was started in Sweden in 2013 from which we report here the information gathered during the first year of registration., Methods: All patients having knee osteotomy (distal femur and proximal tibia), primaries and re-operations are intended to be included in the prospective registration. Reporting to the register is based on a paper form including information on the patient (ID, sex, age, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification [ASA], weight and height) surgical date, hospital, diagnosis, pre-operative alignment and grade of osteoarthritis (OA), part and LOT numbers of implants, surgical technique, prophylaxis (antithrombotic and antibiotic) and operating time., Results: During the first year (April 2013 to March 2014), 34 clinics reported 220 primary knee osteotomies (209 proximal tibia and 11 distal femur). We estimate that this represents almost 80% of those performed on the adult population during the period. The majority of the patients were classified as healthy (60% ASA grade 1), were men (66%) and the median age was 51 years (range 19-67). Proximal tibia osteotomy for OA performed with open wedge osteotomy using internal fixation without bone transplantation was most commonly reported., Conclusions: As relatively few patients are being treated with different types of fixation and bone substitution in Sweden as well as the rapid development of techniques and new implants, a nationwide registration of knee osteotomies is relevant.

Background: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) and unicompartmental arthroplasty (UKA) are reconstructive surgeries advocated for younger patients. In case of failure or progression of osteoarthritis, they can both be converted to a total knee arthroplasty (TKA)., Questions/purposes: We used registry data to answer if the risks of revision for TKAs after previous HTOs and UKAs differ and how these compare with that of de novo TKAs. Furthermore, we wanted to examine the extent of stemmed/revision implants being used for the conversions., Methods: We identified HTOs performed during 1998 to 2007 with the help of the inpatient and outpatient care registries of the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and gathered relevant information from hospital records. The Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register was then examined to find all de novo TKAs, TKAs performed after HTO, and TKAs performed after UKA through the end of 2012., Results: For 920 TKAs after previous UKA and 356 TKAs after previous closed-wedge HTOs, we found the risk of revision significantly higher than for the 118,229 de novo TKAs (risk ratio, 2.8; confidence interval [CI], 2.2-3.5; p<0.001, and 1.7 CI, 1.1-2.6; p<0.001, respectively), whereas for the 482 open-wedge osteotomies, the difference was not significant (risk ratio, 1.2; CI, 0.8-1.8; p=0.44). Stemmed implants were used in 663 of the 117,566 primary de novo TKAs (0.6%), in 22 of the 809 HTO conversions (4%) and in 136 of the 920 UKA conversions (17%)., Conclusions: TKAs after previous reconstructive surgery carry an increased risk for revision. However, our findings do not mitigate against the use of UKA and HTO in selected cases., Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background and Purpose: Most studies on high tibial osteotomies (HTOs) have been hospital-based and have included a limited number of patients. We evaluated the use and outcome-expressed as rate of revision to knee arthroplasty-of HTO performed in Sweden with 9 million inhabitants, 1998-2007., Patients and Methods: 3, 161 HTO procedures on patients 30 years or older (69% men) who were operated on for knee osteoarthritis in Sweden, 1998-2007, were identified through the inpatient and outpatient care registers of the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. Pertinent data were verified through surgical records. Conversions of HTO to knee arthroplasty before 2010 were identified through the Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register (SKAR). The 10-year survival was determined using revision to an arthroplasty as the endpoint., Results: The number of HTOs decreased by one third between 1998 and 2007, from 388 operations a year to 257 a year. Most of the HTOs were performed with open wedge osteotomy using external fixation. The cumulative revision rate at 10 years was 30% (95% CI: 28-32). The risk of revision increased with increasing age and was higher in women than in men (RR = 1.3, CI: 1.1-1.5)., Interpretation: If being without an artificial joint implant is considered to be beneficial, then HTO is an excellent alternative to knee arthroplasty in younger and/or physically active patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Bisphosphonates increase the callus size and strength in animal fracture studies. In a human non-randomized pilot study of high tibial osteotomies in knee osteoarthritis, using the hemicallotasis (HCO) technique, bisphosphonates shortened the healing time by 12 days. In the present randomized study, we wanted to determine whether a single infusion of zoledronic acid reduces the time to clinical osteotomy healing. Results from the same trial, showing improved pin fixation with zoledronate, have been published separately., Methods: 46 consecutive patients (aged 35-65 years) were operated. At 4 weeks postoperatively, the patients were randomized to an intravenous infusion of either zoledronic acid or sodium chloride. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed 10 weeks postoperatively. Radiographs were taken at 10 weeks and every second week until there was radiographic and clinical healing. Healing was evaluated blind, with extraction of the external fixator as the endpoint. At 1.5 years, an additional radiograph was taken and the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle measured to evaluate whether correction had been retained., Results: All osteotomies healed with no difference in healing time between the groups (77 (SD 7) days). Bone mineral density and bone mineral content, as assessed with DEXA, were similar between the groups. Radiographically, both groups had retained the acquired correction at the 1.5-year follow-up., Interpretation: In this randomized comparison, a single infusion of zoledronic acid increased the pin fixation of the external frame but did not shorten the healing time. In both groups, the external fixator was extracted almost 2 weeks earlier than in previous studies. The early extraction did not cause a loss of correction in either group.

Introduction: Bisphosphonates have been shown to reduce osteoclastic activity and enhance pin fixation in both experimental and clinical studies. In this prospective, randomized study of high tibial osteotomy using the hemicallotasis (HCO) technique, we evaluate whether treatment by one single infusion of zoledronic acid can enhance the pin fixation., Materials and Methods: 46 consecutive patients (35-65 years) were operated on for knee osteoarthritis by the HCO technique. After the osteotomy, two hydroxyapatite-coated pins were inserted in the metaphyseal bone and two non-coated pins in the diaphyseal bone. The insertion torque was measured by a torque force screw driver. Four weeks postoperatively, the patients were randomized to either one infusion of zoledronic acid or sodium chloride intravenously. At time for removal of the pins, the extraction torque forces of the pins were measured., Results: All osteotomies healed and no difference was found in time to healing. The mean extraction torque force in the non-coated pins in the diaphyseal bone was doubled in the zoledronic treated group (4.5 Nm, SD 2.1) compared to the placebo group (2.4 (SD 1.0, p<0.0001). The mean extraction torque forces of the hydroxyapatite-coated pins in the metaphyseal bone were similar in the zoledronic acid group (4.7 Nm, SD 1.3) and in the placebo group (4.0 Nm, SD 1.3)., Discussion: A single infusion of zoledronic acid improved twofold the fixation of non-coated pins in diaphyseal bone. Bisphosphonates might be an alternative to hydroxyapatite-coated pins in nonosteoporotic bone.

Background: The association between knee alignment and knee pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA) is unclear. High tibial osteotomy, a treatment option in knee OA, alters load from the affected to the unaffected compartment of the knee by correcting malalignment. This surgical procedure thus offers the possibility to study the cross-sectional and longitudinal association of alignment to pain. The aims were to study 1) the preoperative association of knee alignment to preoperative knee pain and 2) the association of change in knee alignment with surgery to change in knee pain over time in patients operated on for knee OA by high tibial osteotomy., Methods: 182 patients (68% men) mean age 53 years (34 - 69) with varus alignment having tibial osteotomy by the hemicallotasis technique for medial knee OA were consecutively included. Knee alignment was assessed by the Hip-Knee-Ankle (HKA) angle from radiographs including the hip and ankle joints. Knee pain was measured by the subscale pain (0 - 100, worst to best scale) of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) preoperatively and at one year follow-up. To estimate the association between knee alignment and knee pain multivariate regression analyses were used., Results: Mean preoperative varus alignment was 170 degrees (153 - 178) and mean preoperative KOOS pain was 42 points (3 - 86). There was no association between preoperative varus alignment and preoperative KOOS pain, crude analysis 0.02 points (95% CI -0.6 - 0.7) change in pain with every degree of HKA angle, adjusted analysis 0.3 points (95% CI -1.3 - 0.6).The mean postoperative knee alignment was 184 degrees (171 - 185). The mean change in knee alignment was 13 degrees (0 - 30). The mean change in KOOS pain was 32 (-16 - 83). There was neither any association between change in knee alignment and change in KOOS pain over time, crude analysis 0.3 point (95% CI -0.6 - 1.2), adjusted analysis 0.4 points (95% CI 0.6 - 1.4)., Conclusion: We found no association between knee alignment and knee pain in patients with knee OA indicating that alignment and pain are separate entities, and that the degree of preoperative malalignment is not a predictor of knee pain after high tibial osteotomy.

Background: Pin-site infection and pin loosening are complications that can cause discomfort to the patients. The purpose of present study was to evaluate pin-site infection, pain, and the use of medications using the XCaliber pin (Orthofix) with optimized thread and tip design, and the commonly used standard pin (Orthofix) during the procedure of hemicallotasis osteotomy (HCO)., Material and Methods: Fifty patients of mean age 51 (35-66) years treated with HCO were randomized to standard pins (Orthofix) or XCaliber pins (Orthofix). Hydroxyapatite-coated pins were used in the metaphyseal bone and non-coated pins in the diaphyseal bone in both groups. Pin sites, pain, and the use of medications were evaluated weekly during the HCO., Results: At week 7 the patients in the XCaliber group had more pain at rest [19 (22) vs. 5 (5) mm, P = 0.01] and during activity [32 (32) vs. 12 (13) mm, P = 0.02] and used more paracetamol (2,100 vs. 925 mg, P = 0.04) than those in the standard group, with similar differences, until the extraction of the pins. There was no difference in the use of antibiotics [10.5 (14.5) days (XCaliber) vs. 7 (7.5) days (standard) (P = 0.16)]., Conclusion: The commonly used standard pin has important clinical- and patient-related benefits.

Background and Purpose: Tibial osteotomy by the hemicallotasis technique (HCO) requires strong pin fixation. We compared pin fixation in HCO using a new self-drilling XCaliber pin (Orthofix) with optimized thread and tip design, with the commonly used standard pin (Orthofix)., Patients and Methods: 50 patients, mean age 51 (35-66) years, to be treated by HCO were randomized to standard pins or XCaliber pins. In the metaphyseal bone, hydroxyapatite-coated (HA-coated) pins were used in both types of pins. In the diaphyseal bone, non-coated pins were used. The torque forces for insertion and extraction (in Nm) were measured., Results: The insertion torque was higher for both the proximal and distal standard pins (2.1 Nm (SD 0.9) and 7.0 Nm (1.3), respectively) than for the XCaliber pins (1.3 Nm (0.8) and 3.6 Nm (1.4)). The extraction torque force was higher for the proximal standard pins (4.3 Nm (3.1)) than for the proximal XCaliber pins (1.5 Nm (1.7)) (p < 0.001). The extraction torque for the distal standard pins was 1.9 Nm (2.0) and for the distal XCaliber pins it was 1.4 Nm (1.1)., Interpretation: The commonly used standard pin gives stronger fixation during the treatment of HCO.

Background and Purpose: The effect of oral snuff on bone healing is virtually unknown. In vitro data have indicated that delay in bone healing in smokers may be the result of components of smoke other than nicotine. We compared the time for bone healing after high tibial osteotomy in snuffers, smokers, and in control subjects who did not use snuff or cigarettes., Patients and Methods: 175 male patients comprising 41 smokers, 21 oral snuff users, and 113 non-smokers/non-snuffers, all of whom were operated on for knee deformity by tibial osteotomy using the hemicallotasis technique (HCO) between 2000 and 2005, were included in a consecutive manner. Preoperative tobacco use, postoperative complications, and treatment time in external fixation were documented., Results: There was no delayed healing in the oral snuff users. The mean time in external fixation for all patients was 94 days (SD 20). Oral snuff users had the shortest time in external fixation (87 days (SD11)) compared to smokers (100 days (SD 25)) (p=0.03) and non-smokers/non-snuffers (93 days (SD 14)). The risk ratio for smokers developing complications was 6.1 (95% CI: 1.2-36.4) compared with oral snuff users., Interpretation: Our findings indicate that the use of oral snuff does not delay bone healing or increase the risk of postoperative complications, which cigarette smoking does, in patients operated on by the hemicallotasis technique.

Introduction: Tibial osteotomy by the hemicallotasis technique is a clean elective operation. With external fixation pins inserted, close to the knee joint, the infection prophylaxis should be considered. The primary aim was to investigate the differences in the postoperative use of antibiotics during the time in external fixation between administrating prophylactic antibiotics for 3 days or as a single dose in patients operated on by the hemicallotasis technique for knee deformities. Secondary aims were to study the differences in pin-site infection rate and grade and complications., Material and Methods: A total of 106 consecutive patients of mean age 52 years (range 18-69) operated on by the hemicallotasis technique for knee deformities were included in this prospective study. Sixty patients were prescribed prophylactic antibiotics for 3 days and 46 patients as a single dose. Chlorhexidine (5 mg/ml) in alcohol (70% ethanol) was used as cleansing agent in the pin-site care. The power of the study was calculated to 80% to detect a difference in the postoperative use of antibiotics for 7 days during the treatment in external fixation., Results: There were no differences in postoperative use of antibiotics between 3 days administration or a single dose of prophylactic antibiotics. This was the case with infection rate and grade, positive bacterial cultures, presence of Staphylococcus aureus, nor positive culturing from the tip of the pins at removal. Neither were there any differences in numbers of loose pins and complications., Conclusion: There were no differences between 3 days of administration of prophylactic antibiotics and one single dose. One single dose of prophylactic antibiotics is appropriate together with a pin-site concept preventing pin-site infection in patients operated on by hemicallotasis osteotomy.

Background: Tibial osteotomy is a treatment for younger and/or physically active patients suffering from uni-compartmental knee osteoarthritis. The open wedge osteotomy by the hemicallotasis technique includes the use of external fixation. The use of external fixation has several advantages, as early mobilization and the opportunity for optimal correction. However, the hemicallotasis technique has also been described as a cumbersome procedure for the patient. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate patient-relevant outcomes during the first 2 post-operative years. Especially the treatment period, during which external fixation was used, was closely monitored., Methods: In an uncontrolled study, fifty-eight consecutive patients, 30 men and 28 women (mean age 54 years) were operated on by the hemicallotasis technique were evaluated with the patient-relevant outcome measure Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) preoperatively, during the treatment with external fixation, one week after removal of the external fixation, at 6 months, and at one and two years postoperatively., Results: At the 2-year postoperative follow-up, all subscales of the KOOS were improved (p < 0.001), mostly in pain (41-80 on a 0-100 worst to best scale) and knee-related quality of life (21-61 on a 0-100 worst to best scale), compared to the preoperative status. Significant improvements in pain and other symptoms, function of daily life and quality of life were seen already during the treatment period (mean 98 +/- 18 days) with the external fixation. More demanding functions such as kneeling, squatting, jumping and running, were improved first after extraction of the external fixation device and the pins., Conclusion: Tibial osteotomy by the hemicallotasis technique yields large improvement in self-rated pain, function and quality of life, which persists over two years. Surprisingly, large improvements occurred already during the immediate post-operative period when the external fixation was still used.

Background: Cigarette smoking is known to impede bone healing. The hemicallotasis technique is based on an external fixation and delayed healing prolongs treatment and increases the risk of further complications., Patients and Methods: 200 patients, 34 smokers and 166 nonsmokers, operated on by the hemicallotasis technique in the proximal tibia for deformities of the knee (knee arthrosis in 186 patients) were consecutively studied. We recorded their preoperative smoking habits, postoperative complications and the duration of treatment with external fixation., Results: Half of the smokers and one fifth of the nonsmokers developed complications. Their mean time in external fixation was 96 (SD 20) days. Smokers required an average of 16 days more in external fixation. Delayed healing and pseudoarthrosis were commoner in smokers than nonsmokers. The risk ratio for smokers to develop complications was 2.5, as compared to nonsmokers.

Background and purpose In Sweden, surgery for knee osteoarthritis (OA) in patients younger than 55 years of age has doubled during the last 10 years. We evaluated the use of 3 surgical alternatives: high tibial osteotomy (HTO), unicompartmental arthroplasty (UKA), and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We also examined the outcome, expressed by rate of revision. Methods The numbers of all procedures during 1998–2007 were obtained from the Swedish Knee Arthroplasty Register (SKAR) (UKA < 55 years: n = 1,050; UKA ≥ 55 years: n = 7,743; TKA < 55 years: n = 2,832; TKA ≥ 55 years: n = 62,829) and the National Board of Health and Welfare (NHW) (HTO 25–55 years: n = 2,266). The revision rate (presented as life tables) was based on the SKAR material for arthroplasties. For HTOs, a single institutional series of 450 patients aged 30–64 years was used to calculate the revision rate and to compare it to that for UKAs (n = 4,799; age 30–64 years). Results During the 10 years, the use of TKA in patients younger than 55 years increased fivefold. While UKA increased threefold, its use diminished in the last 2 years. Although the use of HTO halved during the period, it is still used more often than UKA. The risk of revision increased in patients younger than 55 years and was lower for TKA (9%) than for UKA (24%). The revision rate was similar for HTO (17%) and for UKA (17%) in patients aged 30–64 years. Interpretation TKA is the preferred method for young OA patients in Sweden today. The use of HTO and UKA has diminished, and as the few operations are spread over many hospitals, there is a risk of gradual loss of experience with respect to patient selection and surgical routine—with a negative effect on outcome. Thus, there is a risk that these treatment alternatives for younger patients will eventually be abandoned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]