ARTHRODIASTASIS WITH lliZAROV EXTERNAl RING FIXATOR FOllOWING DEBRIDMENTOF THE OSTEOARTHRITIC KNEE

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by destruction of articular cartilage, subchondral sclerosis and frequently a mild degree of inflammation.

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In this series, I9 patients with knee OA were included. The cases were admitted to Tanta University Hospital from December 2003 to March 2005. All I 9 cases were primary osteoarthritis. Secondary osteoarthritis were excluded

form this thesis.

All cases were treated by joint arthrodiastasis using Ilizarov external ring fixator after arthroscopic debridement and drilling of the exposed articulating surfaces.

The age of the patients ranged from 39 to 65 years. There were 4 males and

1'5 females. The right side was affected in I 0 patients and the left in 9. The weight of the patients ranged from 72 to 99 kg.

All the cases were subjected to both clinical and radiological examination before treatment, daily follow up in the first week after surgery then weekly in the following 3 months, lastly the follow up was monthly later on. Each visit was associated with clinical, functional and radiological assessment then registration of all data in private files.

The parameters of this study were pain sensation, functional assessment by the

TWC, ROM, joint space and tibio-femoral angle in the X-rays.