Tibial tubercle osteotomy hinged on the tibialis anterior muscle and fixed by circumferential cable cerclage in revision total knee arthroplasty

Background: Difficulties in knee exposure during revision total knee arthroplasty (RTKA) may require tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO). The main objective of this study was to assess union after TTO hinged on the lateral soft tissues and fixed using circumferential cable cerclage during RTKA. Hypothesis: Non-union is uncommon with this technique. Patients and methods: We retrospectively included consecutive patients who underwent RTKA between 2008 and 2010 with TTO. Chevron osteotomy was performed and the fragment was left hinged laterally on the tibialis anterior muscle then fixed using circumferential cerclage with one or two steel cables. The primary evaluation criterion was TTO union as assessed on radiographs. Secondary evaluation criteria were time to union, osteotomy fragment migration, patellar height, and the IKS score at last follow-up. We included 65 patients with a mean age of 72 +/- 11.3 years including 39 (60%) undergoing septic revision and 26 (40%) aseptic revision. Mean follow-up was 27.8 +/- 10.7 months; there was 1 early death, which was unrelated to the surgery, and another patient was lost to follow-up. Results: TTO union was achieved in 59/63 (93.7%) patients. Fragment migration occurred in 4 (6.3%) patients. Mean time to union was 16.9 +/- 5.1 weeks overall, 12.4 +/- 2.0 in the aseptic revision group, and 18.9 +/- 4.8 in the septic revision group (P = 0.0005). Patellar height at last follow-up was not significantly changed compared to the preoperative value (P = 0.09). At last follow-up, the mean IKS knee and function scores were significantly improved (P < 10-5). Conclusion: TTO hinged on the lateral soft tissues and fixed by circumferential cable cerclage ensured union in the vast majority of patients, with a low rate of tubercle migration. Level of evidence: IV, retrospective study. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.