Sport and physical activity in patients after derotational corticotomies with the Ilizarov method

Torsional distortion causes numerous musculoskeletal pathologies. Effective treatment allows restoring limb function and return to sport activity. Objectives was to assess the sport activity in patients with derotational corticotomies using the Ilizarov method.

It was case series retrospective study. The study examined 56 patients. The control group consisted of 54 patients. A mean follow-up time was 5 years and 6 months. A mean age at the start of treatment was 19 years and 10 months. Patients underwent derotational corticotomies of distal epiphysis of the femur or proximal epiphysis of the tibia using the Ilizarov method. The effect of etiology, type of treatment strategy, and rate, size, and level of derotation on the scores of four activity scales was evaluated; additionally, the activity was compared with the control group.

There were no differences in the scales of activity before and after treatment in the study and control groups. In the study group, higher activity after treatment was reported in the level of GRIMBY activity. Patients with internal torsion had a higher VAS activity level after treatment as compared to patients with external torsion.

Derotational corticotomies allow returning to or increasing physical and sport activity: they do not have a negative influence on physical activity after treatment as compared to the control group.