J Knee Surg 2009; 22(1): 21-26
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1247722
Surgical Technique

© 2009 Thieme Medical Publishers

Simultaneous Femoral and Tibial Osteotomies During Total Knee Arthroplasty for Severe Extra-Articular Deformity

Thomas F. Moyad, Daniel Estok
  • The Department of Orthopaedics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard, Boston, Mass
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 January 2010 (online)

ABSTRACT

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed in knees with mild or moderate intra-articular deformity often can be resolved with careful ligament balancing and bone resection. However, extra-articular deformity may require an osteotomy to safely create rectangular flexion and extension gap balance. In these challenging situations, restoring the mechanical axis through intra-articular bone resection and soft tissue releases alone can lead to excessive bone loss and ligament instability. We report a case of TKA with combined femoral and tibial osteotomies in a post-polio patient with extra-articular deformities. Although a few small case studies have been previously published in the literature, specific details regarding this procedure are lacking. Our objective is to provide a detailed surgical technique and to review the indications for extra-articular osteotomies performed during TKA.