Abstract
Purpose This multicenter study was aimed to evaluate the coincidence of degenerative knee cartilage lesions with a varus or valgus dysalignment. Furthermore, the frequency of the combined surgery of cartilage treatments and corrective osteotomies are determined. Material and Methods A total of 1778 patients were included in the German CartilageRegistry (deadline 01.08.2016). In 90.6% of patients, ...
Abstract
Purpose This multicenter study was aimed to evaluate the coincidence of degenerative knee cartilage lesions with a varus or valgus dysalignment. Furthermore, the frequency of the combined surgery of cartilage treatments and corrective osteotomies are determined. Material and Methods A total of 1778 patients were included in the German CartilageRegistry (deadline 01.08.2016). In 90.6% of patients, the surgeon calculated the alignment by clinical observation. Varus or valgus conditions were measured radiologically in only 56.0%. This study describes patients who underwent treatment of degenerative cartilage lesions with a complete (clinical and radiological) determination of the alignment. Results The mean mechanical tibia-femur angle (Paley) (mTFA) in clinically neutral extremities was 0.2 degrees (SD 0.6; 05), in varus cases 5,0 degrees (SD 3.2; 0-15), and -4.7 degrees (SD -4.0; -15-0) in valgus cases. Varus dysalignment was significantly associated with cartilage lesions in the medial compartment. Valgus dysalignment more frequently occurred in knees with lateral cartilage lesions. Independently of the surgeon ' s choice of the method of cartilage surgery, in 72.4% of all valgus deformities a corrective osteotomy was performed. Valgus dysalignment was corrected in 50%. Conclusions In about a quarter of all cases, cartilage lesions are associated with a varus (18.9%) or valgus (4.2%) dysalignment. In a number of cases, the treatment of cartilage lesions should include the addressing of these axial deviations. Still the efficacy of this procedure regarding prognosis and clinical outcome is unclear.