The posterior tibial slope of the tibiofemoral joint changes after medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO), but little is known about the effect of the sagittal osteotomy inclination angle on the change in the posterior tibial slope of the tibiofemoral joint. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the osteotomy inclination angle in the sagittal plane on changes in the posterior tibial slope after MOWHTO by comparing how anterior and posterior inclination affect the posterior tibial slope of the tibiofemoral joint. The correlation between the osteotomy inclination angle and the postoperative posterior tibial slope angle was also assessed. Between May 2011 and November 2017, 80 patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis who underwent MOWHTO were included. The patients were divided into two groups according to the sagittal osteotomy inclination angle on the 3D reconstructed model. Patients with an osteotomy line inclined anteriorly to the medial tibial plateau line were classified into group A (58 patients). Patients with posteriorly inclined osteotomy line were classified as group P (22 patients). In the 3D reconstructed model, the preoperative and postoperative posterior tibial slope, osteotomy inclination angle relative to medial tibial plateau line in sagittal plane, and gap distance and ratio of the anterior and posterior osteotomy openings were measured. The preoperative and postoperative hip-knee-ankle angle, weight-bearing line ratio, and posterior tibial slope were also measured using plain radiographs. In the 3D reconstructed model, the postoperative posterior tibial slope significantly increased in group A (preoperative value = 9.7 ± 2.9°, postoperative value = 10.7 ± 3.0°, p < 0.001) and decreased in group P (preoperative value = 8.7 ± 2.7°, postoperative value = 7.7 ± 2.7°, p < 0.001). The postoperative posterior tibial slope (group A = 10.7 ± 3.0°, group P = 7.7 ± 2.7°, p < 0.001) and posterior tibial slope change before and after surgery (group A = 1.0 ± 0.8°, group P = −0.9 ± 0.8°, p < 0.001) also differed significantly between the groups. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.875 (p < 0.001) for the osteotomy inclination angle, and multivariate regression analysis showed that the only significant factor among the variables was the sagittal osteotomy inclination angle (β coefficient = 0.216, p < 0.001). The posterior tibial slope changed according to the osteotomy inclination angle in the sagittal plane after MOWHTO. The postoperative posterior tibial slope tended to increase when the osteotomy line was inclined anteriorly with respect to the medial tibial plateau line but decreased when the osteotomy line was inclined posteriorly. To avoid inadvertent change of posterior tibial slope, close attention needs to be paid to maintaining the sagittal osteotomy line parallel to the medial joint line during MOWHTO.

Successful spinal surgery demands high levels of concentration and cooperation from participating health care workers. The intraoperative stress levels and concentration levels of surgeons have been studied previously; however, those of nurses are rarely studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the stresses affecting surgical nurses by their participating role during spinal surgery. A total of 160 surgical stress records were obtained during 40 surgeries, including electroencephalography (EEG) signals and heart rate variability (HRV) from three orthopedic spinal surgeons and six nurses; concentration, tension level and physical stress were analyzed. Levels of both concentration and tension were significantly higher in circulating nurses during all surgical stages (p < 0.05). Both beats per minute and low frequency/high frequency ratios, which reflect physical stress, were higher in scrub nurses (p < 0.05). As the surgical experience of scrub nurses increased, the key parameters related to stress tended to decrease (p < 0.01). These results will contribute to understanding the pattern of intraoperative stress of surgical nurses, and therefore help in enhancing the teamwork of the surgical team for optimal outcomes.

Concomitant talocalcaneal coalition (TCC) in idiopathic clubfeet is not well documented in the literature. The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with very early relapsing idiopathic clubfeet associated with TCC. Although cases have been successfully treated with the Ponseti casting method, all recurred within 2 months of removing the final cast. A single-centre cohort of twelve feet in eight patients treated by a single surgeon between 2006 and 2020 was investigated retrospectively. Recurred cavus with variable degrees of equinus was the earliest findings noted. TCC was incidentally detected during the open reduction of the earliest three feet in our series. Afterwards, ultrasonography was advised as a screening tool for detecting an associated anomaly; however, only the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was 100% accurate in diagnosing concurrent TCC. All coalitions were cartilaginous and the posterior facet was most commonly involved facet. The average age was 18 months for the coalition resection and open reduction of a dislocated talonavicular joint, and the average duration of follow-up was 52 months. None of the patients showed clinical signs of relapse at the latest follow-up. We recommend that an associated TCC should be considered in very early relapsing idiopathic clubfoot cases.