Abstract
The effectiveness of high tibial osteotomies using Citieffe curvilinear osteotome blades and a Charnley's external fixator was examined.
Dome high tibial osteotomies were performed for patients suffering from varus gonarthrosis, and during a period between 1988 and 1995, after multiple drillings of the affected areas, 1cm wide blades were used to osteotomise the proximal tibia. This method was adopted in 20 cases, operating on a total of 21 knee joints. Since 1995, we began operating on such osteotomies using curvilinear osteotome blades developed by Citieffe Co., Ltd. instead of conventional type of blades, and operated on 21 knees.
According to the results of anterior-posterior X-rays taken immediately after the osteotomies, the average contact rate of the surfaces of the bones cut with Citieffe's curvilinear osteotome blades was 85.2%, while that with 1cm wide osteotome blades was only 68%. The average time period needed for bone union after the osteotomies was 52.8 days for the bones cut with Citieffe's curvilinear osteotome blades while it took an avarage of 77.8 days for bones cut with 1cm wide osteotome blades.
These results led to the conclusion that the use of Citieffe's curvilinear osteotome blades in osteotomy is more effective than the use of 1cm wide osteotome blades, resulting in faster bone union in weight bearing bones and a higher contact rate of the surface of the bones which were cut.
