Treatment of late-onset tibia vara using afghan percutaneous osteotomy and orthofix external fixation

J Pediatr Orthop. 2000 Sep-Oct;20(5):606-10. doi: 10.1097/00004694-200009000-00011.

Abstract

The Afghan osteotomy was combined with external fixation on 19 patients (23 extremities) with late-onset tibia vara. The average weight was 258 lb and all patients weighed >95th percentile. The average preoperative deformity was 28.2 degrees. The average intraoperative correction was 27.6 degrees. Average healing time was 141 days. The mean follow-up was 2.7 years. Based on radiographic correction, at long-term follow-up, there were 15 excellent, two fair, and six poor results. The quality of the initial correction was the only significant variable, and it was borderline (p = 0.0587). Complications included loss of alignment, peroneal nerve palsy, superficial pin tract infection, deep infection, and fracture. This method offers a technically simple procedure with a relatively low complication rate. It allows early mobilization and provides the ability to manipulate the correction postoperatively. An excellent long-term outcome is predicated on achieving an acceptable initial correction as determined by intraoperative mechanical axis radiographs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bone Diseases, Developmental / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Diseases, Developmental / surgery
  • Bone Diseases, Developmental / therapy*
  • Child
  • External Fixators*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Obesity / complications
  • Osteochondritis / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteochondritis / surgery
  • Osteochondritis / therapy*
  • Osteotomy / methods*
  • Radiography
  • Tibia* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tibia* / surgery
  • Time Factors