Treatment of relapse valgus knee deformity in fibular hemimelia with hemiepiphysiodesis

The objective of this study was to analyze the treatment of recurrent valgus knee in fibular hemimelia patients with hemiepiphysiodesis and define associated variables for deformity relapse. Sixteen consecutive patients with fibular hemimelia treated with hemiepiphysiodesis (57 physis) were compared to 21 physis of idiopathic cases, in terms of magnitude, speed, and time of correction. Correction of valgus deformity was successfully achieved in all cases. In the fibular hemimelia group, children 4 years and younger had a bigger magnitude of correction than older ones (11° versus 6.9°) and greater speed (1° versus 0.6°), with statistical significance ( P = 0.018 and P = 0.009, respectively), while time for correction was similar among these groups (11.6 months versus 12.3 months). Femoral distal physis corrected faster than proximal tibial physis (10.8 months versus 16.8 months), with statistical significance ( P = 0.032). Thirty-three physis (57.9%) were isolated and 24 (42.1%) were tibia and femur. We found no statistical difference between the two groups regarding time for correction, magnitude, or speed ( P = 0.526, P = 0.910, P = 0.803, respectively). Relapse was observed in 49 physis (86%) of the fibular hemimelia patients. These had a mean age of 5.5 years versus 3.9 years for those without a relapse, with statistical significance ( P = 0.204). Relapse occurred after 2 years of the first procedure. Recurrent valgus deformity in fibular hemimelia can be successfully treated with single or multiple hemiepiphysiodesis with tension band plates in skeletally immature patients in an effective and gradual manner. Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study.