Editorial Commentary: Avoid Creating an Oblique Joint Line After an Opening Medial Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy

Abstract

A medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy is a cost-effective procedure for younger patients with symptomatic medial compartment knee arthritis. A high rate of success can be expected, but excessive postoperative joint line obliquity is associated with inferior clinical outcomes. If preoperative planning predicts that the postoperative medial proximal tibial angle, the medial angle between the tibial anatomical axis and the joint line of the proximal tibia, will exceed 95°, a surgeon should consider performing a double-level osteotomy (combined proximal tibial and distal femoral osteotomies).