OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of open supracondylar osteotomy of the femoral condyle for the treatment of valgus knee osteoarthritis.

METHODSFrom April 2008 to June 2015, 21 patients with valgus knee osteoarthritis underwent an open wedge femoral supracondylar osteotomy using the distal femur dissection plates combined with autologous iliac bone graft for the bone defect. There were 8 males (8 knees) and 13 females (15 knees), ranging in age from 30 to 54 years old, with a mean age of 41.2 years old. All the patients had valgus deformity and knee joint pain in the lateral compartment. The average tibiofemoral angle was (162.0±2.6)° which was measured on the image of preoperative lower extremity weight-bearing X-ray. Clinical outcomes were comprehensively assessed according to the bone healing time, postoperative complications, progress of knee osteoarthritis after operation, the Hospital for Special Surgery rating system (HSS), and tibiofemoral angle before and after operation.

RESULTSAll 21 patients were followed up, the valgus deformity of knee joint was corrected in all patients after operation. No obvious delayed union or nonunion were found, and no serious complications were found. The HSS knee score was improved from the preoperative 57.3±3.1 to the final follow-up time 88.6±2.7. Tibiofemoral angle was improved to the postoperative(176.0±1.4)°.

CONCLUSIONSOpen wedge femoral supracondylar osteotomy has a clear surgical approach, and it is easy to control the bone mass of osteotomy and can effectively correct the valgus deformity and improve the function of knee joint using this method. It is an effective method for the treatment of valgus knee osteoarthritis in young and middle-aged patients.