High tibial osteotomy: does navigation improve results?

Between January 2003 and March 2006, the authors performed 67 open-wedge high tibial osteotomies (HTO) for treatment of genu varum and osteoarthritis. Through comparison of two groups, the study sought to answer whether computed tomography (CT)-free navigation is feasible for HTO and will provide a more accurate correction angle without giving rise to additional complications. The results showed a significantly higher accuracy in achieving the proper leg axis correction (P< .016) when HTO was performed with navigation. Navigation in HTO, which allows intraoperative calculation of the leg axis, seems to be a reliable and safe procedure. Knowing that clinical results of HTO in varus deformity of the leg axis are closely connected to correct postoperative valgus alignment and avoiding overcorrection and undercorrection, the study lead to the conclusion that the use of navigation will contribute to better clinical outcomes.