Medial collateral ligament laxity in valgus knee deformity before and after medial closing wedge high tibial osteotomy measured with instrumented laxity measurements and patient reported outcome

INTRODUCTION: Medial closing wedge high tibial osteotomy (CWHTO) for valgus deformity correction was first described by Coventry whom performed an additional reefing of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) to prevent instability postoperative. In our clinic the additional reefing procedure has never been performed and instability has not been reported routinely by patients. Using instrumented laxity testing, pre- and postoperative valgus and varus knee laxity can be measured objectively. We hypothesize that absence of changes in laxity testing and subjective knee stability scores support that no additional reefing procedure is necessary. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective cohort study 11 consecutive patients indicated for medial CWHTO were subjected to pre- and postoperative stress X-rays in 30° and 70° of flexion and opening of the joint line was measured in degrees on the radiographs. Patient reported outcome scores were documented with the KOOS, Lysholm, SF36, Oxford Knee Score and a VAS instability scoring tool. RESULTS: All patients (7 females) completed the study, mean age was 46 years. Mean preoperative Hip Knee Ankle angle 6.4° valgus was corrected to mean postoperative alignment 0.1° valgus. A significant difference was measured between mean pre- and postoperative 30° valgus laxity (2.8° vs 5.3°, P = 0.005), 30° varus laxity (6.7° vs 3.2°, P = 0.005) and 70° valgus laxity (2.0° vs 4.8°, P = 0.008). Postoperative patient-reported knee instability as measured with the Lysholm questionnaire was significantly improved compared to preoperative instability (P = 0.006). VAS instability improved, but didn’t reach significance (8.0 preoperative and 5.5 postoperative (P = 0.127). Other outcome measures showed improvement as well. No correlations between radiological findings and outcome scores were found. CONCLUSION: A significant increase in postoperative valgus laxity in 30° and 70° of flexion deems reconsidering addition of MCL reefingplasty to the medial CWHTO although patient reported outcome on subjective stability scores fails to report increase of instability in this study population. Instrumented laxity measurements of medial CWHTO patients treated with additional medial reefingplasty should be performed to prove the value of this procedure.