Evaluation of patients for high tibial osteotomy

Fifty-one osteoarthritic knees evaluated by arthroscopic, roentgenographic, and clinical examinations prior to high tibial valgus osteotomy were reevaluated roentgenographically and clinically after a minimum follow-up period of five years (average, 6.2 years; range, 5-8.3 years). The number of good and excellent results decreased over time but was unrelated to the preosteotomy condition of the lateral and patellofemoral compartments as documented by arthroscopy. Knees with 7 degrees to 13 degrees of valgus angulation at the follow-up evaluation had significantly better results than knees with less than 7 degrees of valgus, regardless of the arthroscopic findings. Preosteotomy arthroscopic findings had no predictive value in evaluating patients for this procedure.