Malalignment of the knee can cause debilitating symptoms such as pain, resulting in a decline in function and mobility. Surgical options that exist to address this problem include realignment osteotomies and joint replacements. Realignment osteotomies are the more appropriate options in certain patient populations, especially with regard to age and level of activity. Since a high tibial osteotomy (HTO) was first used to manage malalignment of the knee and osteoarthritis, different techniques involving the use of specialized implants have been developed and further refined to good effect. There has also since been much research into the field of cartilage restoration techniques, both as a standalone treatment option and as an adjunct to a realignment osteotomy. This review attempts to detail the origin and the evolution of HTO, particularly in regard to combining this tried and tested procedure with adjunct cartilage restoration techniques, and the overall patient outcomes. A literature search on PubMed was performed, and articles pertaining to the outcomes of the use of an HTO and cartilage restoration techniques were reviewed. The literature in this field indicates good outcomes in terms of objective measurements of cartilage regeneration (such as arthroscopic visualization and magnetic resonance imaging evaluation) and subjective patient outcome scoring systems (such as the International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm scores) with a realignment osteotomy alone, and studies have shown that patient outcomes can be further improved with the use of a cartilage restoration procedure as an adjunct.

Background:Medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a well-described treatment in early medial compartmental osteoarthritis of the knee. However, two undesirable sequelae may follow –patella baja and changes in the posterior tibial slope (TS).Materials and Methods:We conducted a retrospective study in patients who underwent HTO in our center between September 2009 and February 2017. Preoperative and 6-week postoperative long-leg weight bearing films and lateral knee radiographs were assessed. Pre- and postoperative radiological measurements include the Caton-Deschamps Index (CDI), the mechanical axis deviation (MAD), and the posterior TS. Independant t-test and Pearson correlation test were performed.Results:A total of 106 knees were recruited. The mean age was 48.8 ± 10.8 years. 66 (62.3%) and 40 (37.7%) knees were from males and females, respectively. The mean pre- and postoperative measurements was (−9.70° ± 3.67° to 0.08° ± 2.80°) (−varus; +valgus) for the MAD, (7.14° ± 1.78° to 8.72° ± 3.11°) for posterior TS, and (0.93° ± 0.084° to 0.82° ± 0.13°) for CDI (P ≤ 0.001 for all). The association between patella height change and the level of osteotomy (supra-tubercle vs. infra-tubercle) was statistically significant (P < 0.001). A supra-tubercle osteotomy cut significantly lowering patella height (P = 0.011). There was otherwise no statistically significant correlations between patella height changes and the correction angle (P = 0.187) or posterior TS change (P = 0.744).Conclusions:A medial opening wedge HTO above the tibial tubercle was significantly associated with lowering patella height or reducing CDI postoperatively. Based on our results, we would recommend the use of an infra-tubercle osteotomy during the corrective surgery to prevent the complication of patella baja.