Objective To evaluate the efficacy of modified Ranawat soft tissue balance technique on total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods From January 2004 to June 2008, 34 cases (44 knees) of valgus deformity were treated with TKA. There were 5 males (5 knees) and 29 females (39 knees), aged 55-79 years old (average 60.3 years old) and including 18 left knees and 26 right knees. The deformity was caused by osteoarthritis in 9 cases, by rheumatoid arthritis in 19 cases, and bytraumatic arthritis in 6 cases. According to Ranawat classification, there were 5 cases (5 knees) of type I and 29 cases (39 knees) of type II. All patients were performed modified Ranawat soft tissue balance technology. Results The operative time was (65 ± 7) minutes. Burst fracture of femoral condyle occurred and internal fixation was selected in 1 case of rheumatoid arthritis. Small incision necrosis occurred and healed after debridement in 1 case of rheumatoid arthritis. Incision healed by first intention in other cases. Adhesions occurred in 1 case (1 knee) and hydrarthrosis in 4 cases (4 knees), all cured after symptomatic treatment. All patients were followed up 6 months to 5 years with an average of 2.6 years. All patients had no compl ications of deep vein thrombosis, dislocation, vascular injury and nerve injury. X-ray films showed no signs of prosthesis loosening and infection at 1 year after operation. The X-ray films showed statistically significant differences (P lt; 0.05) in anatomic valgus angulation between preoperation and 1 week after operation [(25.4 ± 3.1)° vs (3.8 ± 1.2)°]. There were statistically significant differences in modified KSS score between preoperation and 1, 2 years postoperatively (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion It is a simple and effective way to treat the valgus deformity with modified Ranawat soft tissue balance technique in TKA, which can achieve the satisfactory results in the knee stabil ity, the range of motion and the deformity correction
Objective To explore the technique of the soft tissue balancing in the total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the patients of rheumatoid arthritis with flexion contracture. Methods From November 1997 to May 2006, 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis with flexion contracture underwent primary bilateral TKA and balancing of the soft tissues, among whomthere were 8 males and 30 females, aged 48-71 years old (58.2 on average). The course of disease was 28 months-16 years (7.6 years on average). The preoperative flexion contracture was (38.2 ± 11.3)°. The average range of motion (ROM) and HSS score were (49.1 ± 17.8)° and 23.9 ± 16.9, respectively. According to the preoperative flexion-contracture degree of the knees, these patients were divided into 3 levels: 5 patients with ≤ 20°, 26 patients with 20-60° and 7 patients with ≥ 60°. During the TKA procedure, based on the correct osteotomy, different methods of soft tissue balancing were used for different degrees of flexion contracture. The TKA soft tissue treatment was summed up as the releasing of posterior structures and the balancing between medial collateral ligaments (MCL) and lateral collateral ligaments (LCL), etc. Results The flexion contractures in 38 cases were all improved after the operation, among which 33 patients had a complete correction and only 5 patients had a residual flexion contracture of 5-10°. Eight knees suffered from complications within 1 week after operation, among which 3 had subcutaneous superficial infection and 5 had deep vein thrombus (DVT). These patients obtained good heal ing after active treatment. All the 38 patients were followedup for 10 months to 8 years with the median time of 37 months. The postoperative flexion deformity declined to (2.4 ± 5.7)°, and the ROM and HSS scores were (96.3 ± 14.6)° and 81.7 ± 10.4, respectively. There was statistical difference (P lt; 0.05). According to the HSS score, 27 patients (71.05%)were rated as excellent, 6 good (15.79%) and 5 fair (13.16%), and the choiceness rate was 86.84%. Conclusion The balancing of the soft tissue is a major treatment for correction of the flexion contracture, which can avoid bone over-resection during the surgery of TKA. The proper balancing of the soft tissue can not only achieve an obvious correction of the flexion contracture but also effectively improve the range of motion and the functional recovery of the knee joint after TKA.
Objective To explore the technique of the soft tissue balancing inthe total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for the patients with the knees of varus deformity and flexion contracture. Methods From January 2001 to December 2005, 86 patients (19 males, 67 females; age, 57-78 years;average, 66 years) with the knees of varus deformity and flexion contracture underwent primary TKA and the balancing of the soft tissues. All the patients had suffered from osteoarthritis. The unibilateral affection was found in 68 patients and the bilateral affection in 18. The varus deformity angle was averaged 12.3° (range, 6-34°). The soft tissue varus accounted for 56.7% and the bony varus accounted for 43.3%. The flexion contracture lt; 10° was found in 21 knees, 10-19° in 45 knees, 20-29° in 22 knees, and gt;30° in 16 knees, with an average angle of 18.9°. Results The flexion contractures were improved. Before operation the average angle ofthe flexion contracture was 18.9° but after operation only 4 patients had a residual flexion contracture of 5° and the remaining patients had a complete correction. The follow-up for 37 months (range, 6-72 months) in all the patients revealed that only 6 patients had a residual flexion contracture of 5-10° and the others had a full extension. Before operation the average varus angle was 12.3°(range, 6-34°) and the average tibiofemoral angle was 174.7° (range, 70.3-175.6°), but after operation the residual varus angle gt; 3° was only found in 2 patients. The complications occurring during operation and after operation were found in 6 patients, injuries to the attachment of the medial collateral ligaments in 2, patellar clunk syndromes in 2, cerebral embolism in 1, and lacunar infarction in 1, with no nerve disorders left after the medical treatment. No skin necrosis, the cut edge infection or deep infection occurred. Conclusion The balancing of the soft tissues is a major management for correction of the varus deformity and the flexion contracture. The proper balancing of the softtissues can achieve an obvious recovery of the function and correction of the varus deformity after TKA.
Objective To analyze formation of the varus angle of the knee dueto osteoarthritis and to explore techniques of the soft tissue balance in the total knee arthroplasty(TKA). Methods One hundred patients with145 varus knees (18 males, 25 varus knees; 82 females, 120 varus knees) underwent TKA from January 1999 to December 2003. Their ages averaged 62.4 years (range, 45.80 years), and their HSS（hospital of special surgery）scores were 38.0±3.2 points. Before operation，all the patients were measured in the alignment of the lower extremity, accurate bonecutting was performed, and their static alignment was achieved. Then, the soft tissue release was made. The release performance consisted of 3 steps: release before the bone-cutting, release during the bone-cutting, and release after the bonecutting. Release of themedial ligament and capsule, elimination of the osteophytes, and release of thelateral patellar retinaculum were more important. Results The varus angles in these patients were 9.2±3.1° before operation. Among them,the varus angles caused by the soft tissue imbalance accounted for 53.2%，and caused by the bone structure accounted for 46.8%； and the latter caused by thetibia varus, 22.8%, and by the tibia plateau destruction, 24.0%. There was nosignificant difference between the varus angles caused by the soft tissue imbalance and the varus angles caused by the bone structure deformity (P＞0.05). According to the postoperative imaging studies, the correction degree for the varus angles by the bone-cutting was 4.3°, which represented 27.9% of the total corrected angles, and the correction degree for the varus angles corrected by the soft tissue balance was 10.7°, which represented 72.1% of the total corrected angles. The HSS scores were 87.0±4.5 points after operation, and the difference between preoperation and postoperation was significant. Conclusion The varus knee due to osteoarthritis results from the varus angle in the bone structure and the angles caused by the imbalance of the collateral ligaments and the soft tissues around the knee. The latter causative factor is more important in the formation of the varus knee and should only be corrected through the soft tissue release. The more important part to be released isthe attachments of the medial ligament and the posterior capsule. The release performance should be followed by the principles, i.e., step by step, tests at all the time, and avoidance of the excessive release.
ObjectiveTo explore the surgical technique and effectiveness of sliding osteotomy of medial femur condyle in handling soft tissue balance of severe valgus deformity in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MethodsBetween June 2008 and February 2014, 18 cases (19 knees) of severe valgus knees undergoing sliding osteotomy of medial femur condyle in primary TKA were included. Of the 18 patients, 6 were male and 12 were female with an average age of 52.3 years (range, 29-72 years), including 3 cases (3 knees) of osteoarthritis, 11 cases (12 knees) of rheumatoid arthritis, 3 cases (3 knees) of post-traumatic arthritis, and 1 case (1 knee) of deformities in skeletal dysplasia. Before surgery, the tibial-femur angle (TFA) was (33.0±2.9)°; the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score was 41.6±7.7; the Knee Society Score (KSS) lateral stability score was 6.0±5.4. All cases were rated as type II according to Krackow classification of valgus knee. During primary TKA, sliding osteotomy of medial femur condyle was performed via a medial parapatellar approach. ResultsIncision healed by first intention in all cases. Peroneal nerve palsy occurred in 1 patient, which was cured after 6 months of conservative treatment. Eighteen cases were followed up 19 months to 7 years, with an average of 5.7 years. All patients had no complications of deep vein thrombosis, deep infection, and prosthesis loosening. X-ray films showed that bone healing was achieved in all cases at 6 months. At last follow-up, the TFA was (4.8±1.8)°, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative value (t=62.61, P=0.00). The HSS score was 87.2±10.5 and the KSS lateral stability score was 12.4±3.1, all showing significant differences when compared with preoperative scores (t= —33.35, P=0.00; t= —6.83, P=0.00). ConclusionSliding osteotomy of medial femur condyle is effective for correcting severe valgus knee deformity during TKA. Satisfactory joint function and stability may be achieved.