No significant differences in patient-reported outcome measures in men vs women following tibial tubercle osteotomy

Abstract

Introduction

Sex is known to play a critical role in orthopedic surgery, but there is limited information describing the role that sex plays in outcomes following tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO).

Objective

This study aimed to determine if there are any differences in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) between men and women following TTO.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients at a single institution who underwent a primary TTO by two sports medicine fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons between May 2015 and December 2022 was performed. Patients undergoing a primary TTO with pre- and postoperative PROMs were included. Patients with less than 1 year of follow-up were excluded. A two-sample t test with equal variances was performed for statistical analysis of PROMs. Two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum statistical analysis was completed to compare operative age and body mass index (BMI).

Results

One hundred and twenty-two patients were included (n = 134 knees), with 102 female knees (76%), a median age of 31.4 [interquartile range [IQR]: 23.0, 36.4], and a median BMI of 24.3 [IQR: 22.1, 28.6]. There was no difference between the male and female cohorts with respect to age (P = .21), though males had a higher BMI (P = .044). There were no differences in preoperative, postoperative, or changes preoperatively and postoperatively in International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain, KOOS Symptoms, KOOS Activities of Daily Living, KOOS Quality of Life, and KOOS Sport scores between men and women (P > .05 for all).

Conclusions

There are no differences between men and women with respect to the preoperative, postoperative, or change in IKDC, KOOS Pain, KOOS Symptoms, KOOS Activities of Daily Living, KOOS Quality of Life, and KOOS Sport scores following TTO.