Arthroscopic Evaluation of Cartilage Regeneration After Opening-wedge High Tibial Osteotomy

Second-look Arthroscopic Evaluation of Cartilage Regeneration After Medial Opening-wedge High Tibial Osteotomy

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common problem causing significant knee pain and disability. Medial compartment osteoarthritis is predisposed to by varus deformity of the knee. High tibial osteotomy is a well-established method for treatment of medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis and correction of varus deformity.

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by erosion of the articular cartilage, hypertrophy of the bone at the margins and subchondral sclerosis. Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common problem causing significant knee pain and disability. Medial compartment osteoarthritis is predisposed to by varus deformity of the knee. High tibial osteotomy is a well-established method for treatment of medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis and correction of varus deformity. It is a joint preserving procedure especially preferred in young patients for whom arthroplasty is not desirable. The procedure promotes regeneration by causing lateral shift of the weight-bearing axis, thus decreasing load on the medial compartment and widening the medial joint space. The methods for اigh tibial osteotomy include opening-wedge osteotomy and closed wedge osteotomy. An opening-wedge osteotomy has become increasingly popular compared to the other technique. One of the disadvantages of this technique is that the plate is placed subcutaneously on the medial aspect of the proximal tibia. Many of the patients complains of irritation through the plate and wish metal removal after healing of the osteotomy. Few papers assessed regeneration of the articular cartilage after medial opening-wedge osteotomy.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age younger than 65 years
2. Medial joint line tenderness
3. BMI less than 30
4. Varus tibiofemoral malalignment
5. Range of motion in the knee joint maintained from greater than 100 degrees of flexion to less than 15 degrees of flexion contracture
6. Osteoarthritis of the knee with any degree of cartilage damage provided that the cartilage damage in the lateral compartment not exceeding Outerbridge grade 2
7. No associated ligamentous functional instability

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Age older than 65 years
2. Severe Lateral compartment osteoarthritis (Outerbridge grade 3 or 4)
3. Flexion contracture of greater than 15 degrees
4. Inflammatory arthritis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, active knee infection