Abstract
Stability of the knee joint depends on soft tissues integrity and bony balance in
the frontal and sagittal planes during gait. Although frontal plane imbalance is a
well-known knee pathology, commonly treated by high tibial osteotomy, sagittal plane
imbalance is less common, with fewer and more challenging surgical treatment options.
The purpose of this review is to describe the biomechanical effects of sagittal knee
imbalances and to outline the indications, techniques, and outcomes of sagittal knee
osteotomies. The article details the reference axes and methods to measure posterior
tibial slope (PTS), the principal indicator of sagittal imbalance, and its influence
on anteroposterior tibial translations and rotational stability of the joint. The
authors also outline the roles of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in
maintaining sagittal balance, with focus on the associations between PTS and ligament
deficiencies, as well as posterolateral corner injuries. Different techniques and
indications of tibial osteotomy in the sagittal plane, both above and below the anterior
tibial tubercle, are compared in terms of technical difficulty, clinical benefits,
and complication rates. The authors conclude on the importance of understanding sagittal
knee imbalance, particularly in cases of ligament deficiencies, where the deformity
can be the primary cause for lesions. Surgeons must identify the underlying deformities
associated with sagittal imbalance, which can be recognized on weight-bearing X-rays
and magnetic resonance imaging scans. Different techniques of sagittal osteotomies
offer effective treatments for certain indications and should be considered in selected
cases for unstable knees with ligament lesions.
Keywords
posterior tibial slope - sagittal - instability - imbalance - tibial deflexion osteotomy
- antirecurvatum osteotomy
