Medial Compartment Decompression by Proximal Fibular Osteotomy: A Biomechanical Cadaver Study

Medial compartment knee osteoarthritis is a painful and debilitating disease. A proximal fibular osteotomy is a novel, simple surgical technique that may reduce pain and improve function for patients with osteoarthritis. The purpose of this biomechanical cadaver study was to determine what effect proximal fibular osteotomy had on knee joint and ankle pressures and tibia strain. Ten matched pairs of cadaver legs were tested in compression to 1.1 times body weight comparing intact and with proximal fibular osteotomy at 0 degrees,15 degrees, and 30 degrees of flexion. Sensors were inserted into the knee and ankle joint to measure pressure, force, and contact area, Strain was measured with a strain gage on the anterior medial tibia. In the medial compartment, the peak force, contact area, and pressure all decreased from intact to after fibular osteotomy, with significant differences at 15 degrees of flexion (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the lateral compartment for any measures. In the ankle joint, the peak force and pressure decreased from intact to after fibular osteotomy at all 3 flexion angles. There were no significant changes in strain in the tibia. Proximal fibular osteotomy decreases the pressure in the medial compartment of the knee, which may reduce knee pain and improve function in patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis, [Orthopedics. 2018; 41(4):e496-e501.]