Objective: To (1) investigate the use of K-wires as alignment aids for cranial closing wedge ostectomy (CCWO) and (2) evaluate their effect on osteotomy accuracy and angular/rotational alignment.
Study design: Cadaveric study.
Animals: Cadaveric pelvic limbs (n = 20).
Methods: CCWO was performed with and without alignment aids on 20 cadaveric pelvic limbs. CT scans were performed pre- and post-operatively to evaluate tibial torsion and valgus/varus deformity. Digital photographs of the ostectomized bone wedges were used to assess divergence of the 2 osteotomies, and the area of the medial and lateral aspects measured to assess osteotomy angulation within the dorsal plane.
Results: Osteotomy divergence angle, the difference between the area of the medial and lateral aspects of the ostectomized wedges, and the difference between the pre- and post-operative angles of valgus/varus deformity were all significantly smaller for the alignment aid group. The difference in pre- and post-operative tibial torsion was not significantly different between groups.
Conclusions: K-wires can be used successfully as alignment aids during CCWO and help to create a significantly more orthogonal osteotomy. This allows a significant reduction in the difference between the preoperative and postoperative angles of valgus or varus, which may reduce the risk of developing a clinically important iatrogenically introduced valgus/varus deformity postoperatively.
© Copyright 2014 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.