Abstract
Of the 89 osteoarthritic knees treated by proximal tibial osteotomy at the King Khalid National Guard Hospital, Jeddah from 1983 to 1987, 54 patients (63 knees), with varus deformity were followed for at least 2 years, the average follow-up being 3.6 years. They were classified into three groups I, II and III, according to the surgical technique performed in each group. There were 12 knees in Group I where an external fixation and fibular osteotomy was used; in Group II there were 19 knees which had transverse incision, division of the capsule of the superior tibiofibular joint, a one-step staple to hold the osteotomy closed and a plaster cylinder for 6 weeks. In Group III there were 32 knees where the operation was done through a lateral vertical skin incision with a fibular osteotomy, a one-step staple and a plaster cylinder for 6 weeks. The worst results were obtained from Group I and there was no difference between the results of Groups II and III.