Complications of high tibial osteotomy and internal fixation with staples

Osteotomy for osteoarthritis of the knee has established itself well since its first description by Jackson and Waugh [8, 9]. Internal fixation with staples allows early functional treatment with only a minimum of operative intervention. Removal of the metal is optional. In the 5-year period from 1986 to 1990, 182 high tibial osteotomies were performed at the Orthopaedic Department of the University Hospital of Freiburg. In four cases internal fixation was done with plates; in 178 cases two or more staples were used; in 3 cases a screw was additionally inserted for better hold. The staples became loose intraoperatively in eight cases (4.5%); only once did a dislocated staple have to be reoperated on post-operatively. Further complications which are independent of the method of internal fixation are summarized in the article. Complications of surgery on the long bones of the leg are inevitable, but with only one postoperatively dislocated staple and one case of non-infected pseudarthrosis (i.e. a method-related complication rate of 1.1%), internal fixation with staples for high tibial osteotomy presents itself as a reliable and safe procedure.