Return to Duty Following a Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy

Anterior knee pain is a common complaint among military members, with a negative impact on operational readiness. A tibial tubercle osteotomy is one treatment option for select etiologies of anterior knee pain and has been reported to result in high rates of return to activity. A retrospective review of active duty service members undergoing a tibial tubercle osteotomy at a single army medical center was performed. Thirteen active duty service members were identified as undergoing a tibial tubercle osteotomy. Nine patients remained on active duty at 1 year following surgery. After 24 months, only four service members remained on active duty, while seven were medically retired. Seventy-five percent of patients who underwent concomitant cartilaginous procedure underwent a medical discharge. A small subset of active duty military personnel who underwent a tibial tubercle osteotomy was able to remain on active duty, but concomitant cartilaginous procedures did not appear to be compatible with retention on active duty because of the high physical demands placed on soldiers. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 26(4):262–265, 2017) Key words: active duty, knee pain, military, patellofemoral, tibial tubercle osteotomy