Gait analysis in patients with gonarthrosis treated by high tibial osteotomy

The basic parameters of gait were studied in 14 patients with medial gonarthrosis before and eight to 12 months after high tibial osteotomy. In seven patients, the osteotomy was fixed with staples. The patient was placed in plaster immobilization for six weeks and weight bearing was allowed after ten weeks. In the other seven patients, the osteotomy was fixed with a T-plate, and immediate joint motion and weight bearing were allowed after six weeks. There was no difference in any parameter of gait among patients treated with the two techniques. For all patients, the mean maximal velocity preoperatively was 65% of that of normal people, with only a slight, nonsignificant increase at the follow-up examination. An additional indication of insufficient rehabilitation was the decrease in stride length at constant maximal velocity at the follow-up evaluation. Positive correlations were found between stride length and muscle torque in the thigh. Positive correlations were also found between a subjective score and maximal velocity. Simple tests of velocity, stride length, and stride frequency are recommended as an easy and decisive method of follow-up evaluation.