TY - JOUR
T1 - Favorable rates of return to activity and work following lateral closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy for femoral-based symptomatic varus malalignment
T2 - an analysis at a mean 6-year follow-up
AU - Rupp, Marco Christopher
AU - Themessl, Alexander
AU - Merkle, Michael
AU - Insam, David
AU - Hinz, Maximilian
AU - Breulmann, Franziska L.
AU - Achtnich, Andrea
AU - Mehl, Julian
AU - Siebenlist, Sebastian
AU - Muench, Lukas N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Purpose: To evaluate return to sport (RTS), work (RTW) and clinical outcomes following lateral closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy (LCW-DFO) for symptomatic femoral varus malalignment. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent LCW-DFO for symptomatic varus malalignment between 12/2007 and 03/2018 were included. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Lysholm score, Tegner Activity Scale, and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain were collected preoperatively and at a minimum of 24 months postoperatively. RTS and RTW were assessed by questionnaire. Results: Thirty-two patients (mean age: 45.9 ± 12.3 years), who underwent LCW-DFO for femoral-based varus malalignment (6.4 ± 3.0°), were included at a mean follow-up of 72.7 ± 39.1 months. The patient collective significantly improved in IKDC (51.8 ± 12.3 to 61.8 ± 21.5, p = 0.010; 95% CI = 3–21), WOMAC (26.7 ± 17.6 to 12.5 ± 13.5; p < 0.001; 95% CI = 21–6) and Lysholm (46.5 ± 19.4 to 67.9 ± 22.8 points (p < 0.01; 95% CI = 9–31)) scores at final follow-up. The VAS for pain reduced significantly postoperatively (4.8 ± 2.3 points to 2.6 ± 2.3 points (p = 0.002; 95% CI = 0–3)). Following LCW-DFO, 96% of patients returned to sports at a mean of 5.3 ± 2.9 months. Yet, a shift to lower impact sports compared to one year preoperatively was observed, with patients participating in a significantly lower number of high-impact disciplines (p = 0.024) and fewer hours in high-impact sports (p = 0.034). Twenty-three out of 24 patients returned to work at a mean 11.4 ± 10.9 weeks, with 18 patients reporting a similar or superior working ability. Conclusion: Undergoing isolated LCW-DFO for symptomatic femoral-based varus malalignment enabled the vast majority of patients to RTS and RTW along with a significant functional improvement at mid-term follow-up. However, patients’ expectations have to be adequately managed regarding a limited probability to return to high-impact sports and work after surgery. Level of evidence: Retrospective case series; Level IV.
AB - Purpose: To evaluate return to sport (RTS), work (RTW) and clinical outcomes following lateral closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy (LCW-DFO) for symptomatic femoral varus malalignment. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent LCW-DFO for symptomatic varus malalignment between 12/2007 and 03/2018 were included. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Lysholm score, Tegner Activity Scale, and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain were collected preoperatively and at a minimum of 24 months postoperatively. RTS and RTW were assessed by questionnaire. Results: Thirty-two patients (mean age: 45.9 ± 12.3 years), who underwent LCW-DFO for femoral-based varus malalignment (6.4 ± 3.0°), were included at a mean follow-up of 72.7 ± 39.1 months. The patient collective significantly improved in IKDC (51.8 ± 12.3 to 61.8 ± 21.5, p = 0.010; 95% CI = 3–21), WOMAC (26.7 ± 17.6 to 12.5 ± 13.5; p < 0.001; 95% CI = 21–6) and Lysholm (46.5 ± 19.4 to 67.9 ± 22.8 points (p < 0.01; 95% CI = 9–31)) scores at final follow-up. The VAS for pain reduced significantly postoperatively (4.8 ± 2.3 points to 2.6 ± 2.3 points (p = 0.002; 95% CI = 0–3)). Following LCW-DFO, 96% of patients returned to sports at a mean of 5.3 ± 2.9 months. Yet, a shift to lower impact sports compared to one year preoperatively was observed, with patients participating in a significantly lower number of high-impact disciplines (p = 0.024) and fewer hours in high-impact sports (p = 0.034). Twenty-three out of 24 patients returned to work at a mean 11.4 ± 10.9 weeks, with 18 patients reporting a similar or superior working ability. Conclusion: Undergoing isolated LCW-DFO for symptomatic femoral-based varus malalignment enabled the vast majority of patients to RTS and RTW along with a significant functional improvement at mid-term follow-up. However, patients’ expectations have to be adequately managed regarding a limited probability to return to high-impact sports and work after surgery. Level of evidence: Retrospective case series; Level IV.
KW - Clinical outcomes
KW - Distal femoral osteotomy
KW - Functional outcomes
KW - Lateral closing wedge
KW - PROMs
KW - Return to sports
KW - Return to work
KW - Varus deformity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145501169&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00167-022-07303-w
DO - 10.1007/s00167-022-07303-w
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85145501169
SN - 0942-2056
VL - 31
SP - 3151
EP - 3159
JO - Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
JF - Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
IS - 8
ER -