High valgus tibial osteotomy for osteoarthritis of the knee.

We report a statistical analysis of the results of 65 tibial osteotomies for primary osteoarthritis of the knee followed up at 3 and 5 years. Preoperative walking ability and the severity of pain are the factors with which the long term prognosis can best be correlated. The preoperative range of motion and mild subluxation become important at 5 years, but these factors were not important at 3 years. Mild instability did not have any influence. The severity of the osteoarthritis in radiographs and the postoperative femoro-tibial angle did not have any important association with the result. The results are therefore best predicted by preoperative pain and activity. The degree of correction did not affect the result.