Rheumatology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Physical Activity after High Tibial Osteotomy for Treatment of Medial Compartment Knee Osteoarthritis

de Carvalho Júnior LH, Soares LFM, Gonçalves MBJ, Costa LP, França GA, da Costa EL, Temponi EF

Background: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is the preferential treatment for the symptomatic osteoarthritis of the medial compartment of the knee. Even though HTO is recommended for the active patient, there is few information describing sports and recreational activities after HTO.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to evaluate the physical activity and functional outcome of a group of patients presenting with medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee.

Methods: 174 patients who had been submitted to HTO were evaluated after a mean follow-up period of 47.9 months by interview and questionnaire. Functional and physical activities were scored according to published rating systems.

Results: 142 (81.6%%) patients were satisfied (mean satisfaction 2) with the outcome of surgery, 64.3% of the patients had normal work duties after surgery without limitation or decline in performance and 58.6% had resumed physical activities at pre-operative levels: some patients had started the exercises (18.4%). The mean preoperative score for physical activity according to the Tegner and Lysholm scale was 2.9 ± 1.9, while the mean postoperative score was 3.2 ± 2.9 (p>0.05). According to Lysholm and Gillquist ratings, the mean preoperative score for physical performance was 57.1 ± 16.2 while the mean postoperative score had increased to 77.3 ± 17.5 (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on this study, HTO allow the resumption of physical activities for many individuals with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the medial compartment of the knee, resulting in improvements of the clinical conditions and, consequently, in their daily working and recreational activities.