Tibial tubercle osteotomy in total knee arthroplasty surgery.

Tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) is a recognized technique for improving exposure when performing total knee arthroplasty surgery. Forty-two patients were reviewed at a mean of 8 years after TTO. Preoperatively, mean extension was 8 degrees +/- 14 degrees , mean flexion 74 degrees +/- 30 degrees , and Knee Society score 73 +/- 37. At latest follow-up, mean extension was 4 degrees +/- 15 degrees , mean flexion 91 degrees +/- 22 degrees , and Knee Society score 124 +/- 42.6 (P < or = .0001). Seventy-three percent of patients had an excellent/good score at latest follow-up. Twenty-five percent of patients experienced no extensor lag, and 66% of extensor lags had resolved within 6 months. Mean time for osteotomy union was 14 weeks. In this series, TTO performed to enhance surgical exposure did not adversely affect the outcome after total knee arthroplasty but resulted in serious complications in 5% of patients.