Outcome after treatment of osteoarthritis with open-wedge high-tibial osteotomy with a plate: 2-year results of a Japanese cohort study

Quadriceps strength can improve twelve months after opening wedge high tibial osteotomy and opening wedge distal tibial tubercle osteotomy, particularly after opening wedge high tibial osteotomy

BACKGROUND

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a globally prevalent condition leading to joint pain and disabilities. Surgical interventions such as opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) and opening-wedge distal tuberosity osteotomy (OWDTO) aim to alleviate symptoms and delay disease progression. Quadriceps strength, crucial for knee function, may decline postoperatively, affecting patient outcomes. However, little is known about quadriceps strength variation after OWHTO and OWDTO. This study investigated changes in quadriceps strength before and after OWHTO and OWDTO.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients who underwent OWHTO or OWDTO between 2016 and 2022. Quadriceps strength and demographic and surgical data were collected preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed to compare changes in quadriceps strength over time.

RESULTS

Of 120 knees, 52 (OWHTO, 27; OWDTO, 25) were included in this study. Quadriceps strength increased over 12 months post-OWHTO, significantly improving at 12 months compared to the preoperative and 6-month values. In OWDTO, the strength improved but not significantly.

CONCLUSIONS

Quadriceps strength improved following OWHTO and OWDTO, with OWHTO showing significant enhancements. Future studies should investigate the relationship between quadriceps strength and functional outcomes and guide rehabilitation strategies for improved postoperative recovery.

Medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy for the treatment of medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis: A state-of-the-art review

Medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis is a common condition that is frequently associated with significant pain and dysfunction. Medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) offers a unique opportunity to preserve the knee joint and potentially alter the course of the degenerative process. Recent advances in this field of surgery have enabled surgeons to perform a MOWHTO in a safe, reliable and reproducible manner. This state-of-the-art review highlights the most important advances in the field of MOWHTO. Key concepts related to patient selection, pre-operative planning, surgical accuracy and patient outcome are considered. The importance of an individualized approach is emphasized and its influence on the future direction of the procedure is discussed.

Effect of hardware removal and second-look arthroscopy after open-wedge high tibial osteotomy

INTRODUCTION

Open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) is the standard and safe procedure for medial compartment osteoarthritis. Although hardware removal (HWR) is performed after post-OWHTO bone union, the effects of HWR on OWHTO have been rarely reported. We hypothesised that HWR would improve range of motion (ROM) and implant-related complications. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of HWR on postoperative ROM, the Japan Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score/visual analogue scale (VAS) score and hardware-related complications after OWHTO.

METHODS

Patients who underwent OWHTO between January 2016 and June 2018 and HWR were retrospectively reviewed. To perform OWHTO, locking plates and prosthetic bone were used to achieve optimal stabilisation of biplanar osteotomy. HWR was performed after a second-look arthroscopy through the previous skin incision. For clinical evaluation, the JOA score, VAS score, and ROM were assessed before and 1 year after HWR using the Wilcoxon rank test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of post-HWR improvement.

RESULTS

Of 98 knees examined (91 patients), 80 (73 patients; 39 men and 34 women) were included. At the time of OWHTO, mean age was 64.0 ± 9.7 years and body mass index, 25.5 ± 3.1 kg/m2; Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grade 1 was seen in 20 cases, KL-2 in 46, and KL-3 in 14. Mean periods between OWHTO and HWR were 13.4 ± 2.0 months, and 11.9 ± 1.2 months between HWR and evaluation. The JOA score and flexion angle significantly improved after HWR (The JOA score: p = 0.026 flexion angle: p < 0.001); however, the VAS score and extension angle did not (VAS score: p = 0.162, extension angle: p = 0.934). Hardware irritation was observed in four cases (5%), which improved after HWR. Logistic regression analysis revealed that lower preoperative KL grade and flexion angle were predictors of improvement after HWR [KL grade: p = 0.008; odds ratio 3.244, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.350-7.794; flexion angle: p < 0.001; odds ratio 1.150, 95% CI 1.062-1.245].

CONCLUSION

HWR improves flexion angle, clinical outcomes and hardware-related complications after OWHTO. Preoperative KL grade and flexion angle are predictors of improvement after HWR in patients who have undergone OWHTO.

Incidence of Complications and Revision Surgery After High Tibial Osteotomy: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a well-recognized procedure for its effectiveness in treating symptomatic early knee arthritis and malalignment. Although there are numerous systematic reviews evaluating the management and outcomes after HTO, there are few investigations on complications of this procedure.

PURPOSE

To systematically review the literature to determine the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications associated with medial opening wedge and lateral closing wedge HTOs.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE databases were queried for studies reporting complications associated with HTO with or without concomitant procedures. Data including patient characteristics, procedure type, concomitant procedures, follow-up time, and postoperative imaging were extracted. Rates of intra- and postoperative complications, reoperations, and conversion to arthroplasty were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 71 studies were included for analysis, comprising 7836 patients. The overall intraoperative complication rate during HTO was 5.5% (range, 0%-29.3%), and the overall postoperative complication rate was 6.9% (range, 0%-26.6%). The most common intraoperative complication was lateral hinge fracture (incidence, 9.1%; range, 0%-30.4%) in medially based HTOs and peroneal nerve injury in laterally based HTOs (incidence, 3.2%; range, 0%-8.7%). The overall incidence of neurovascular injury after medially or laterally based HTOs was 1.1% (range, 0%-18.9%). The most common postoperative complication was superficial infection (incidence, 2.2%; range, 0%-13%). Of the included studies, 62 included postoperative radiographic analysis, and among those, the incidence of nonunion was 1.9% (range, 0%-15.5%), loss of correction was 1.2% (range, 0%-34.3%), and implant failure was 1.0% (range, 0%-10.2%). Among studies reporting revision surgeries, the overall reoperation rate was 15.5% (range, 0%-70.7%), with the most common type of reoperation being hardware removal (incidence, 10.0%; range, 0%-60%).

CONCLUSION

Intraoperatively, medially based HTOs are associated with a 1 in 11 risk of lateral hinge fracture and laterally based HTOs with a 1 in 30 risk of peroneal nerve injury. Postoperative complication rates in the range of 10% to 15% can be expected, including infection (2.9%), loss of correction (1.2%), and nonunion (1.9%). Patients should also be counseled that the reoperation rate is approximately 15%, with hardware removal being the most common procedure.

Larger bone marrow lesion volume before medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy correlates with better improvement of clinical scores in patients with knee osteoarthritis

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) and bone marrow lesion (BML) scores and volumes. The hypotheses were that quantitative BML volume is more associated with clinical outcomes of MOWHTO than qualitative BML evaluations, and pre-operative BML volume is associated with the improvement of clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Patients who underwent MOWHTO were retrospectively enrolled. The Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) was recorded before the initial surgery and at plate removal surgery. Using pre-operative short-time inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging, BMLs were evaluated using three qualitative scores, reflecting the maximum length, proportion, and intensity of BML. For quantification, BMLs of the femur and tibia were separately defined as lesions with a threshold greater than the mean signal intensity plus two standard deviations, using the corresponding lateral condyles as controls. The association between the KOOS scales and BML scores/volume was evaluated using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Multivariate linear regression analyses for post-operative KOOS scales were performed using the tibial BML volume as one of the four independent variables.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 40 MOWHTO cases. Two qualitative BML scores correlated only with pre-operative KOOS sports. Femoral and tibial BML volumes were correlated with post-operative KOOS QOL (ρ = 0.40, p = 0.01) and sports (ρ = 0.36, p = 0.02), respectively. Tibial BML volume was significantly correlated with all five delta KOOS scales (ρ = 0.39-0.51, p = 0.01-0.001), however, femoral BML volume was only correlated with delta KOOS QOL (ρ = 0.41, p = 0.01). In multivariate analyses, tibial BML volume was a significant positive predictor for every post-operative KOOS scale, while post-operative % mechanical axis was also a positive significant variable, except post-operative KOOS pain.

CONCLUSION

Tibial BML volume was positively correlated with one post-operative KOOS scale and all delta KOOS scales. A larger pre-operative tibial BML and appropriate alignment correction were associated with a better post-operative KOOS scales. Pre-operative large BML had no negative influence on post-operative clinical outcomes; hence, surgeons need not hesitate to perform MOWHTO in patients with large BMLs in the medial condyles.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Retrospective case series, Level IV.

Comparison of the clinical effects for different positions of the weight-bearing axis after high tibial osteotomy

PURPOSE

To analyze the clinical effects of different positions of the weight-bearing axis (WBA) after high tibial osteotomy (HTO).

METHODS

The clinical data of 90 patients who underwent HTO in the Department of Orthopedics at our hospital from June 2018 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into groups A and B (n = 45 per group) according to different post-HTO WBA positions of the affected side. WBAs in both groups were at 50-60% and 62-66% of the tibial plateau, from inside to outside, respectively. American Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score (HSS), visual analog scale (VAS) score, femorotibial angle (FTA), and medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

All patients were followed up with for 12 months. HSS scores increased gradually and VAS scores decreased gradually in both groups preoperatively, and at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively (P < 0.05). Compared to group A, group B had better HHS scores at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively (P < 0.05). There was no significant between-group difference in VAS scores at all aforementioned timepoints (P > 0.05). Postoperative MPTA and FTA were 89.56° ± 2.18° and 177.11° ± 2.63° in group A, and 89.07° ± 1.98° and 177.07° ± 2.36° in group B, respectively, with no significant between-group difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Patients with post-HTO WBA ranges of 50-60% and 62-66% achieved knee joint function improvement and pain relief. Half a year later, those with a WBA range of 62-66% had better knee joint function scores. However, a comparison of long-term effects warrants further investigation.

Association of Medial Meniscal Volume With Decreased Joint Space Width After Medial Opening-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy

Background

Medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) reduces contact stress by altering the weightbearing axis from the medial to the lateral compartment, relieves knee pain, and slows the progression of osteoarthritis.

Purpose/Hypothesis

To evaluate whether the volume of the medial meniscus affects outcomes after MOWHTO. It was hypothesized that reduced medial meniscal volume would be associated with worse midterm clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Included were 59 patients who underwent MOWHTO and had ≥4 years of follow-up data. The mean follow-up period was 66.5 ± 15.1 months (range, 48-110 months). The cohort was classified into 3 groups according to the status of the medial meniscus on arthroscopic examination before osteotomy: no meniscal tear, degenerative tear leading to partial meniscectomy, and degenerative tear leading to subtotal meniscectomy. The Hospital for Special Surgery score and Knee Society objective and functional scores were compared among the groups at 2 time points (preoperative and latest follow-up), and the medial joint space width (JSW) was compared among the groups at 3 time points (preoperative, 1 year postoperative, and latest follow-up).

Results

Overall, 9 patients had no meniscal tear, 20 patients underwent partial meniscectomy, and 30 patients underwent subtotal meniscectomy. The clinical scores improved significantly from preoperatively to the latest follow-up (P ≤ .001 for all), with no significant difference among the groups. Post hoc analysis indicated that at the latest follow-up, JSW was significantly lower in the subtotal meniscectomy group compared with the no-tear group on both 45° of flexion posterior-anterior (2.5 ± 1.3 vs 3.9 ± 1.8 mm; P = .004) and anterior-posterior (3.4 ± 1.1 vs 4.5 ± 0.9 mm; P = .011) radiographs.

Conclusion

Subtotal meniscectomy of the medial meniscus performed during arthroscopic examination with MOWHTO was associated with decreased JSW at midterm follow-up. Efforts should be made to preserve the medial meniscus as much as possible during MOWHTO.

Superior survivorship and plate-related results of TomoFix compared to Puddu plate fixation for opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy: A systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

This systematic review aimed to compare survivorship and plate-related results of Puddu and TomoFix plates in opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO).

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched from January 2000 until September 2021 for clinical studies involving patients with medial compartment knee disease and varus deformity undergoing OWHTO using the Puddu or TomoFix plating systems. We extracted survival data, plate-related complications, and functional and radiological outcomes. The risk of bias assessment had been carried out using Cochrane Collaboration's quality assessment tool for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and Methodological Index for Non-Randomised Studies (MINORS).

RESULTS

Twenty-eight studies were included. The total number of knees was 2568 in 2372 patients. The Puddu plate was used in 677 knees, while the TomoFix plate was used in 1891. The follow-up ranged from 5.8 to 147.6 months. Both plating systems were able to delay conversion to arthroplasty at different follow-up intervals. However, osteotomies fixed by the TomoFix plate achieved higher survival rates, especially at mid-term and long-term follow-ups. In addition, fewer complications were reported with the TomoFix plating system. Although both implants achieved satisfactory functional outcomes, high scores could not be maintained throughout long-term intervals. Regarding radiological results, TomoFix plate was able to achieve and maintain larger degrees of varus deformity, while preserving the posterior tibial slope.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review demonstrated the superiority of the TomoFix over the Puddu system as a safer and more effective fixation device in OWHTO. Nevertheless, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of comparative evidence through high-quality RCTs.

Gait analysis and knee kinematics before, and 6 and 18 months after corrective valgus osteotomy

BACKGROUND

The study objective was to assess clinical outcomes and gait biomechanics in patients after 6 and 18 months after varus deformity (VD) surgical correction at knee joint (KJ).

METHOD

The study included 20 patients with medial osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee of grade 2-3 and a VD of >4°. A total of 21 surgeries were performed on the patients. Full length weight bearing (FLWB) X-ray and KJ assessments were done using the KSS, KOOS and VAS scoring systems were obtained from all the patients. Biomechanical gait parameters were captured using an inertial sensor system at timepoints before, and 6 and 18 months after surgery. Temporal and kinematic parameters of walking were analyzed.

RESULTS

The radiological parameters showed a stable VD correction. According to the KOOS, KS and VAS scores, there was a moderate dynamic improvement in the operated knee function during the study. The biomechanical parameters remained virtually unchanged throughout the entire follow-up period. In the following year, there were some subjective improvements but without any significant changes in gait biomechanics or knee kinematics.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, the main changes in the joint clinical condition and function occur in the first 6 months after surgery. According to the study data-assessments by VAS, KOOS, and KSS-there was a moderate clinical improvement during the long-term follow-up period, however, the biomechanical changes were minor.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound does not promote bone healing and functional recovery after open wedge high tibial osteotomy

Aims

To evaluate whether low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) accelerates bone healing at osteotomy sites and promotes functional recovery after open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO).

Methods

Overall, 90 patients who underwent OWHTO without bone grafting were enrolled in this nonrandomized retrospective study, and 45 patients treated with LIPUS were compared with 45 patients without LIPUS treatment in terms of bone healing and functional recovery postoperatively. Clinical evaluations, including the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, were performed preoperatively as well as six weeks and three, six, and 12 months postoperatively. The progression rate of gap filling was evaluated using anteroposterior radiographs at six weeks and three, six, and 12 months postoperatively.

Results

The pain VAS and JOA scores significantly improved after OWHTO in both groups. Although the LIPUS group had better pain scores at six weeks and three months postoperatively, there were no significant differences in JOA score between the groups. The lateral hinge united at six weeks postoperatively in 34 (75.6%) knees in the control group and in 33 (73.3%) knees in the LIPUS group. The progression rates of gap filling in the LIPUS group were 8.0%, 15.0%, 27.2%, and 46.0% at six weeks and three, six, and 12 months postoperatively, respectively, whereas in the control group at the same time points they were 7.7%, 15.2%, 26.3%, and 44.0%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the progression rate of gap filling between the groups.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated that LIPUS did not promote bone healing and functional recovery after OWHTO with a locking plate. The routine use of LIPUS after OWHTO was not recommended from the results of our study. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(11):885–893.

The relationship between the ''Fujisawa point'' and anatomical femorotibial angle following simulated open wedge high tibial osteotomy

Background

We evaluated the relationship between the weight-bearing line (WBL) ratio and anatomical femorotibial angle (FTA) by simulated open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO). This study evaluated the correlation between the ‘‘Fujisawa point’’ and FTA, and identified factors which caused deviations between the two measurement methods. We hypothesized that the Fujisawa point corresponded with 170° of the FTA.

Methods

Preoperative antero-posterior full-length lower limb radiographs of 82 patients were obtained for the OWHTO to place the WBL ratio at a target of 62.5% of the width of the tibial plateau (Fujisawa point). The coronal alignment was measured pre- and post-planning. The patients were divided into two groups by the post-planning FTA: a correspondence group (168.5°≦FTA≦171.5°) and a non-correspondence group (FTA < 168.5°, 171.5° < FTA). The relationship between the Fujisawa point and the FTA was analyzed with multivariate regression analysis.

Results

The post-planning FTA was 169.8 ± 1.1° and within 170 ± 1.5° in 69 cases (84.1%) when the WBL ratio was 62.5%. The neck shaft angle was 128.1 ± 5.2° in the correspondence group, and 122.3 ± 6.3° in the non-correspondence group. The multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the neck shaft angle was the only factor that predicted the correspondence of the Fujisawa point with the FTA at 170° (p = 0.006, odd 1.28).

Conclusions

The post-planning FTA converged at 170° when the WBL ratio passed through the Fujisawa point and the neck shaft angle was the only predictor.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-022-05734-7.

The Relationships between Coronal Plane Alignments and Patient-Reported Outcomes Following High Tibial Osteotomy: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to determine whether coronal angular corrections correlate with patient reported outcomes following valgus-producing high tibial osteotomy (HTO).

DESIGN

Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched. Studies that reported hip-knee-ankle angles (HKA) or femorotibial angles (FTA), and the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), or EQ-5D before and after valgus-producing HTO were eligible. Correlation analyses were performed where appropriate to investigate the relationships between variables. PROSPERO ID: CRD42019135467.

RESULTS

This study included 39 articles including 50 cohorts. VAS was reported in 22 studies, OKS in 9, KOOS in 12 and EQ-5D in 2. The HKA angle was corrected from 7.1° ± 1.7° varus to 2.3° ± 1.7° valgus at final follow-up. The FTA changed from 3.0° ± 2.0° varus to 7.7° ± 1.3° valgus. Outcome scores improved with clinical and statistical significance postoperatively. Spearman correlations for nonparametric data revealed greater changes in knee alignment were moderately associated with larger improvements in VAS scores (r = 0.50). Furthermore, those who experienced greater changes in alignment showed larger improvements in the KOOS Activity and Quality of Life domains (r = 0.72 and r = 0.51, respectively).

CONCLUSION

On average, patients did not achieve the "ideal correction" of 3° to 6° valgus postoperatively. Nevertheless, statistical and clinical improvements in patient-reported outcome measure scores were consistently reported. This suggests that the "ideal correction" may be more flexible than 3° to 6°.

Abrasion arthroplasty promotes improvement of degenerated femoral trochlear cartilage after medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy

OBJECTIVES

Several studies have reported negative effects of open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) on patellofemoral joints with cartilage degeneration and recommended performing other procedures. However, if chondral resurfacing surgery could promote improvement of cartilage degeneration in the patellofemoral joint, OWHTO would be an acceptable option. The purposes of this study were to arthroscopically evaluate the femoral trochlear articular cartilage after abrasion arthroplasty combined with OWHTO and to investigate the factors promoting improvement of that cartilage.

METHODS

The present study cohort comprised 18 knees of 18 patients with varus osteoarthritis of the knee who had (1) International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) grade 4 femoral trochlear chondral lesions at the time of OWHTO; (2) undergone abrasion arthroplasty of the femoral trochlear cartilage in combination with OWHTO; (3) undergone second-look arthroscopy; and (4) been followed up for more than 2 years. Cartilage status was arthroscopically graded at the time of OWHTO and second-look arthroscopy. Patients were allocated to two groups according to the status of the femoral trochlear cartilage at the time of second-look arthroscopy: the improved group comprised patients with an ICRS grade of less than 3, and the not improved group comprised those with an ICRS grade of 4. Clinical outcomes, expressed as Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (symptoms, pain, activities of daily living, function in sports/recreation and quality of life) and selected radiographic variables were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

There were 11 (61%) knees in the improved group and 7 (39%) in the not improved group. A comparison of radiographic variables between the two groups revealed that neither limb alignment nor patellar height affected cartilage changes. The two groups had similar results on the symptoms, pain, sports/recreation and activities of daily living subscales of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score. However, the quality of life subscale significantly differed between the two groups (p=0.025).

CONCLUSION

Degenerated femoral trochlear cartilage can improve after combined abrasion arthroplasty and OWHTO. A comparison of clinical outcomes between the improved and not improved groups revealed that neither radiographic variables nor clinical symptoms, including pain, affected cartilage changes at short-term follow-up.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Case series, level V.