Realignment osteotomies around the knee are a proven surgical treatment for unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (OA). This treatment is gaining popularity amongst Dutch orthopaedic surgeons. However, exact numbers and used standards in clinical practice concerning osteotomies are yet unknown due to the absence of a national registry. Nationwide insights and standardisation of osteotomy care could prevent outliers and thereby improve this treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the national statistics of performed osteotomies, utilized clinical workups, surgical techniques, and post-operative rehabilitation standards in the Netherlands.
Dutch orthopaedic surgeons, all members of the Dutch Knee Society, received a web-based survey between January and March 2021. This electronic survey contained 36 questions, subdivided into general surgeon-related information, number of performed osteotomies, the inclusion of patients, clinical workup, surgical techniques, and post-operative management.
The response rate was 27% (60 of 222 members), who perform realignment osteotomies around the knee. All the 60 responders (100%) perform high tibial osteotomies and 63.3% additionally perform distal femoral osteotomies, while 30% perform double-level osteotomies. Discrepancies in surgical standards were reported in inclusion criteria (Figure 1), clinical workup (Figure 2), surgical techniques, and post-operative strategies.
Clinical standards applied by Dutch orthopaedic surgeons concerning realignment osteotomies in the lower limb have noticeable discrepancies. A nationwide registry for osteotomies would be useful for the overall standardisation and more insight regarding alignment osteotomies, including outcome.