High Tibial Osteotomy Effects on Subtalar Joint in Patients with Genu Varum

Background: osteotomy around the knee is one of the most common corrective surgeries for lower limb deformities. The exact relationship between the effects of these surgeries on the ankle joint is unclear.This study aimed to investigate the effect of HTO on the subtalar joint in patients with genu varum. Methods: In the case series study۳۳ patients including ۲۷.۲% men and ۷۲.۷% womenwith an average age of ۴۱.۹, with genu varum who underwent corrective surgery of open wedge high tibial osteotomy were studied. the heel alignment angle was determined before and after surgery in ۱۰-months follow-up based on Saltzman view in conventional radiography. The data were then compared. Results: Average genu varum correction angle was ۱۱.۹±۱.۳°. Heel alignment degree was ۵.۹±۱.۳° before HTO surgery, and after the surgery,in final follow-up,it was to ۳.۴±۱.۲° valgus, this value was statisticallysignificant(p=۰.۰۴). Moreover, there was a significant statistical relationship between average correction of Varus deformity and heel alignment anglechanges (P=۰.۰۲, r=۰.۳). Conclusion: Correcting Varus knee deformity can be effectiveon heel alignment angle in patients undergoing HTO surgery with genu varum. The angle of the subtalar valgus decreases as a result. Level of evidence: III

Keywords:

genu varum , High TibialOsteotomy , Subtalar Joint , Heel Alignment , HindfootAlignment