Abstract

Following proximal tibial osteotomy for cases of late onset tibia vara, both acute and gradual correction strategies were described, where each has its pros and cons. The aim of this study was to verify the proper selection criteria of cases with late onset tibia vara amenable to successful acute correction strategy using a homogenous patient group with clear inclusion criteria ; all the cases were fixed by a low profile semicircular fixator module. Thirty legs in 20 patients (11 boys, nine girls) with late onset tibia vara, treated in our department between January 2005 and February 2008, that complied well with the assigned inclusion criteria constituted the material of this prospective study. Their mean age was 10.4 years (range, 6-14 years). They were all managed using the same modality that was acute correction based on the osteotomy rule II concept and fixed by a low profile miniature Ilizarov fixator module. After a mean follow up period of 5.9 years (range, 5-7) only (13%) of the cases showed recurrence. Proper selection of cases with late onset tibia vara undergoing acute correction strategy is of utmost importance for the sake of a successful outcome. On the other hand, the low profile simplified fixator module used is a handy and a compliant osteotomy fixation tool.