Worth replacing a loss of medial meniscal tissue with a polyurethane substitute (Actifit®) when performing a valgus tibial osteotomy addition

INTRODUCTION: The addition tibial valgus osteotomy (ovat) is a common treatment of symptomatic genu varus. This frequently is accompanied by considerable loss of medial meniscal tissue. The aim was to evaluate, in the context of performing a ovat, restoring the functional impact of this lack of medial meniscal tissue with Actifit® compared with the simple meniscectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty patients with symptomatic genu varo operated with ovat were studied prospectively. In 30 patients we have left a medial meniscal defect> 25 mm (M) and in 30 a medial Actifit® was implanted(A). The evaluations were performed using Womet, IKDC, Kujala, EVA and satisfaction (0-4). RESULTS: Both groups were statistically comparable preoperatively, including follow-up time (31.2 months; range, 24-47.5; p = 0.35). 53.4 ± 8.4 Womet improved and 42.4 ± 17.2 points in M and A (p = 0.002), improved IKDC 56.7 ± 12 and 50.3 ± 15.6 points in M and A (p = 0.107), 50.4 ± 14.7 Kujala improved to 38.9 ± 21.6 points M and A (p = 0.02) and VAS decreased 6.9 ± 2.1 and 4.7 ± 2.8 points in M and A (p = 0.006). The satisfaction was 3.3 ± 0.8 and 3.3 ± 1 in M and A (p = 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: The symptomatic genu varus treated with OVAT associated to medial meniscectomy led, compared to when it was associated with the implantation of a medial Actifit®, to a marked improvement in most of the scales tested. There was no difference in the degree of satisfaction. Based on short-term results of this study, restitution replacement with polyurethane substitute can not be recommended to perform a ovat.