Predictors of Increased Complication Rate Following Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy (TTO)

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) is a common surgical procedure for various knee conditions.
• Understanding the complication profile and predictive factors is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of minor and major complications after TTO.
• To identify predictors of major complications following TTO.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of 476 TTOs in 436 patients (2011-2023).
• Complications were categorized as major or minor.
• Statistical analysis included Chi-square and t-tests.

Main Results:

• Overall complication rate was 27.5%, with major complications at 23.7% and minor at 8.4%.
• Most frequent complications included painful hardware removal (6.5%) and arthrofibrosis requiring reoperation (5.0%).
• Prior ipsilateral surgery was a significant predictor of major complications.

Conclusions:

• TTO is associated with a substantial complication rate, necessitating careful consideration of surgical history.
• Painful hardware and arthrofibrosis are common TTO complications requiring potential reoperation.
• Factors such as patient age, prior ipsilateral surgery, and osteotomy angle influence complication risk.