Ten-year minimal follow-up of lateral opening wedge distal femoral osteotomy for lateral femorotibial osteoarthritis: Good survivorship and high patient satisfaction

PurposeThis study aimed (1) to determine complications and survival rates of lateral opening wedge distal femoral osteotomy (LOW-DFO) in the long term, (2) to assess their clinical outcomes in the long term and (3) to identify risk factors of failure.MethodsBetween 1991 and 2011, 62 LOW-DFOs were performed in the same department. Inclusion criteria were all isolated LOW-DFO performed for isolated lateral tibiofemoral osteoarthritis and valgus malalignment, with a minimum 10-year follow-up. Thirty-eight patients were included, with a mean age of 48 +/- 9 years. All patients had clinical and radiological assessments. The survival curves were calculated based on the following endpoints: unicompartmental or total knee arthroplasty.ResultsThe mean follow-up was 15.2 +/- 4.4 [10-29] years. The mean preoperative mechanical FemoroTibial Axis (mFTA) was 188.8 degrees +/- 3.2 degrees [184 degrees-197 degrees], primarily due to femur deformity (mean lateral distal femoral axis [LDFA] 83.2 degrees +/- 2.8 degrees). Bone union was achieved in 89.5% of patients (n = 34) at a mean delay of 6.5 +/- 6.7 months. The complication rate was 26% (five stiffness, one nonunion, three secondary displacements and one deep vein thrombosis). Nine revision surgeries (24%) were recorded. Survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 92.1% and 78.9%, respectively. The mean delay between DFO and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was 11.6 +/- 5.7 [1-27] years. Nineteen patients (50%) were free of TKA at the last follow-up. KSS scores were improved significantly. Return to sports was obtained in 92% of cases (n = 35), with a mean delay of 11 +/- 8 months. Seventy-four per cent of patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the surgery. Eighty-four per cent would be willing to undergo the surgery again. Older age (p = 0.032) was a significant risk factor for TKA conversion.ConclusionLOW-DFO is an efficient procedure to manage lateral knee osteoarthritis in young patients with valgus deformity, with a good survival rate at 10 years and high patient satisfaction.Level of EvidenceLevel III.