Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39865261›Full record

ArticleJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2025

Spacer-type tibial osteotomy versus open wedge high tibial osteotomy and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3-4 medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis in patients younger than 65 years.

Yi Zhang, Xiangzhi Yin, Jinli Chen, Yingze Zhang, Tengbo Yu

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yi ZhangDepartment of Sports Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 59 Haier Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266075, China.
Xiangzhi YinDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 59 Haier Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266075, China.
Jinli ChenDepartment of Sports Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 59 Haier Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266075, China.
Yingze ZhangTraumatic Orthopedics Institute of Shandong, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Shinan District, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266001, China.
Tengbo YuDepartment of Orthopedics, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, 1 Jiaozhou Road, Shinan District, QingDao, Shandong Province, 266399, China. ytb1970@126.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 31802022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSpacer-type tibial osteotomy have been proven a novel and effective osteotomy to treat osteoarthritis, while lack of comparison with other surgical methods in younger patients. This study aims to evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of spacer-type tibial osteotomy versus open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) for Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade 3-4 osteoarthritis (OA) in patients younger than 65 years.

methodsThis retrospective study analyzed a total of 224 patients with K-L grade 3-4 knee OA treated from March 2018 to November 2020. Three groups were created according to the operation type. The clinical outcomes recorded preoperatively and at 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively were the range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS), American Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Global (WOMAC) score, operation time, length of incision, relevant complications and failures. Radiographic parameters were measured to evaluate the correction of varus deformity.

resultsThe cohort comprised 224 patients; 70 underwent spacer-type tibial osteotomy, 73 underwent OWHTO, and 81 underwent UKA. The spacer group had the shortest incision (P = 0.000), least amount of bleeding (P = 0.000), and shortest operation time (P = 0.000). UKA achieved the most significant pain relief based on VAS (P = 0.014), KSS pain score (0.030), and WOMAC score (P = 0.000) at 6 months postoperatively, but there were no differences between three groups at 12 and 24 months postoperatively. The spacer and OWHTO groups achieved significantly greater ROM changes compared with the UKA group (all P = 0.000). The complication rate did not significantly differ between the three groups. No surgical failures were identified in HTO but two spacer dislocations in spacer group and three polyethylene dislocations in UKA.

conclusionFor younger patients with K-L grade 3-4 OA, OWHTO seems to be the most appropriate method through clinical comparisons. Although spacer-type tibial osteotomy offers shorter operation time and comparable clinical outcomes, it also has extended recovery phase, additional fibular incision and the risk of spacer dislocation, which did not appear to be superior to OWHTO and UKA under the indications outlined in this study.

trial registrationRetrospectively registered, QYFY WZLL 27,021.

Indexed as

Arthroplasty, Replacement, KneeOsteoarthritis, KneeOsteotomyTibiaAdultAgedAge FactorsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRange of Motion, ArticularRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeHigh tibial osteotomyKnee osteoarthritisSpacer implantationUnicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Identifiers

PMID39865261
PMCPMC11771026

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.