Description
Purpose: Tibial valgus osteotomy has proven to be a successful and cost-effective procedure. The advent of image processing and 3D printing technologies is proving to be an interesting tool to achieve more accurate and reproducible results. The aim of our study was to compare the accuracy in the correction of tibial deformities in tibia varus between the conventional technique and the use of customized guides, the surgical and clinical benefit, and the impact treating in outpatient setting.
Methods: A prospective cohort of 30 patients undergoing tibial valgus osteotomy were selected and randomized into two groups (3D printed guidewire and conventional technique). All patients underwent a complete radiological study to plan the surgical procedure. During surgical procedure, surgical time and X-ray exposure were analyzed. The following results were evaluated: surgical time and X-ray exposure, correlation between the planned correction and the correction obtained, at 3 postoperative months, and the pre/post-operative at 3- and 12-months Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) values obtained and whether if there were differences between the two groups in terms of the correction obtained.
Results: Radiations exposure in the "3D-guide" group have shown statistical difference (8 (+/-4,51), p<0,05), surgical time not, control and guide 3D group respectively 60,69 (+/-8,89) - 53,43 (+/-11,69). At 3-month follow-up, postoperative hip-knee-ankle angle and post operative mechanical-proximal-tibial angle no statistical difference have shown, p > 0,05.KOOS at 3 and 12 months after surgery showed no difference between the conventional technique (p > 0,05). Respectively (87,86 (+/-5,64)) and 3D-guide (88,46 (+/-3,53)), and (44 (+/- 17)) and 3D-guide (47 (+/- 19).
Conclusion: Customized 3-D-printed guide does not permit better correction respect the conventional technique and functional results, but reduction in surgical time and intraoperative radiation exposure was observed.
