Relationships between reference lines altered during leg shape correction as requested by the patient

Introduction Patients who want their leg shape changed often identify the O- or X-shaped legs with varus or valgus deformity striving for ideally shaped legs as classified by A. A. Artemiev. The purpose of the study was to compare changes in the relationship between reference lines as mechanical axis deviation (MAD), mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA), mechanical lateral distal tibial angle (mLDTA) and the associated duration of the correction (CP), fixation (FP) and frame-on periods (FoP) in patients who underwent correction to have the legs shape as requested and those who underwent tibial deformity correction. Material and methods There were 43 patients (84 segments operated on) in the cosmesis group and 15 participants (28 segments operated on) in orthopedic group. Preperative MAD, mMPTA, mLDTA measured 17.48 ± 1.14 mm medially, 84.90 ± 0.35° and 90.61 ± 0.39° in the cosmesis patients; 19.18 ± 2.86 mm medially, 84.04 ± 0.35°, 89.09 ± 0.37° in orthopaedic patients with no statistically significant differences observed between the groups. Results CP, FP and FoP lasted for 41.93 ± 3.96, 97.67 ± 7.78 and 139.60 ± 5.15 days in the cosmesis group, and 18.22 ± 3.05, 134.89 ± 9.42 and 153.00 ± 8.49 in controls. FP/CP, CP/FoP, FP/FoP measured 0.57 ≈ 1/2, 0.31 ≈ 1/3, 0.69 ≈ 2/3 in the cosmesis group and 0.15 ≈ 1/7; 0.12 ≈ 1/8; 0.88 ≈ 7/8 in controls. MAD, mMPTA, mLDTA measured 6.08 ± 0.87 mm laterally, 90.80 ± 0.31°, 88.62 ± 0.35° in the cosmesis participants, and 0.61 ± 0.82 mm laterally, 89.46 ± 0.54°, 87.68 ± 0. 63° in controls. Discussion There were no statistically significant differences in FoP with different duration of CP (≈ 1/3 FoP for the cosmesis group and ≈ 1/8 FoP for controls). The means of MAD, mMPTA of measured up to tibial valgus in cosmesis patients and were well within acceptable limits of normal in controls.Tibial valgus was caused by too much overcorrection (by ¼ on average).