High tibial osteotomy for the treatment of unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis: a review of the literature, indications, and technique

Abstract

In the past decades, there has been varying support for high tibial osteotomy. This surgical procedure was originally popularized by Mark B. Coventry, MD in the 1960s, but fell out of favor with orthopedic surgeons as knee arthroplasty became more commonplace. In the past 10 years, osteotomy has been rediscovered as an important adjunct to cartilage repair procedures that rely on a normalized biomechanical environment. Furthermore, there has been an increase in the number of patients presenting with unicompartmental disease (eg, after prior meniscectomy) who are at an age and functional level that is not ideally suited for joint arthroplasty. High tibial osteotomy allows 70% to 85% of patients to delay arthroplasty for ≥ 5 to 10 years and 50% to 60% for ≥ 15 years. This article provides an overview of the indications, technique, complications, and outcomes of high tibial osteotomy, specifically the more commonly used opening wedge technique.