Abrasion arthroplasty as a salvage for failed upper tibial osteotomy.

Eight patients with persistent pain after upper tibial osteotomy and correction of malalignment were treated with abrasion arthroplasty of the affected compartment. At 34-month follow-up examination, only one patient had significant lasting benefit. Five of the patients required subsequent total knee arthroplasty for relief of their pain. One patient was symptomatically unchanged, and one was awaiting total knee arthroplasty. The authors conclude that abrasion arthroplasty is not a satisfactory salvage for a failed upper tibial osteotomy.