Abstract
Opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) is a surgical procedure that aims to correct
the weight-bearing axis of the knee, moving the loads laterally from the medial compartment.
Conventional indications for OWHTO are medial compartment osteoarthritis and varus
malalignment of the knee; recently OWHTO has been used successfully in the treatment
of double and triple varus. OWHTO, in contrast to closing wedge high tibial osteotomy,
does not require fibular osteotomy or peroneal nerve dissection, or lead to disruption
of the proximal tibiofibular joint and bone stock loss. For these reasons, interest
in this procedure has grown in recent years.
The aim of this study is to review the literature on OWHTO, considering indications
and prognostic factors (body mass index, grade of osteoarthritis, instability, range
of movement and age), outcomes at midterm follow-up, and limits of the procedure (slope
modifications, patellar height changes and difficulties in conversion to a total knee
arthroplasty).
Key Words
high tibial osteotomy - knee - osteoarthritis - opening wedge - prognostic factors
