Effects of Variations in Dwyer Osteotomy Determined by 3D-Printed Patient-Specific Modeling

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: Dwyer osteotomy is commonly used in surgical correction of heel varus deformity but few studies have reported on the size of wedge removed, and none have reported on location of the osteotomy or angle at which the osteotomy should be made. The purpose of this study is to determine these optimal parameters for surgical correction in patients undergoing Dwyer osteotomy using pre-operative imaging analysis with 3D-printed modeling. Methods: Patients with hindfoot varus deformity who had undergone Dwyer calcaneal osteotomy in a single institution were evaluated. Pre-operative CT scans were used to create a 3D-printed model of the ankle and foot sparing the calcaneus. Multiple identical calcaneus models were 3-D printed to perform different variations of the osteotomy. Osteotomies were done at 10, 15 and 20 mm distal to the posterior calcaneal tuberosity at 3 different angles of 30, 45, and 60 degrees of obliquity and taking out 5 or 10 mm of bony wedge giving us 18 osteotomies for each patient. After fixation, each model was mounted to a fixed platform and posterior and Harris heel views was obtained. The angle between the tibial-talus axis and calcaneal-tuber axis was measured digitally and compared to pre-osteotomy state. We used paired t-test to compare corrections (Figure 1). Results: 54 osteotomies were done on 3 patient specific models. We focused on angles 30 and 45 degrees cuts. 60 degree cuts were excluded from the study, because most of them were impossible to do due to anatomical landmarks. The average degree correction of deformity per mm of bone resected was found to be 2.99 degrees in the posterior view and 1.84 degrees in the Harris Heel view. This correction was not statistically different between 30 and 45 degree cuts or between the location of the osteotomy from the posterior calcaneal tuberosity. Conclusion: This is the first study that a 3D-printed model was used in the analysis of pre-operative imaging prior to Dwyer osteotomy to help determine optimal realignment of the hindfoot. The average degree of correction per mm bone resected was 2.99 degrees in the posterior view and 1.84 in the Harris heel view. A 60 degree cut is not advised because it is not possible for many of the iterations due to limitations of the calcaneal or peroneal tuberosity. This study provides insight into the amount needed to resect to correct the deformity, but the optimal position varies between the patients