[High tibial barrel-vault osteotomy. A clinical study and statistical analysis of 91 long-term results]

91 high tibial valgus barrel-vault osteotomies were subject of a follow-up study from 10 to 19 years (phi 11.9) after the osteotomy. 20 of the patients rate themselves as excellent, 29 as good, 22 as poor and 22 as failed. Adipositas was a factor that mainly worsened the results. Furthermore a postoperative flexion deformity and preoperative joint-space-narrowing were negative conditions, too. A slight overcorrection, more than the physiological valgus proved to be advantageous. The results were not influenced by age, sex and preoperative radiographic stage and range of motion. In summary the osteotomy has been shown to be a successful measure to prolong the period until final destruction of the knee joint will happen.