Navigated open wedge high tibial osteotomy.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Navigation Systems

Background:

• High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a common procedure for treating knee osteoarthritis and malalignment.
• Traditional HTO relies on manual measurements, which can lead to inaccuracies and variability in correction.
• Preoperative planning for HTO may have limitations that are difficult to fully address intraoperatively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the advantages and clinical outcomes of computer navigation in open wedge high tibial osteotomy.
• To evaluate the impact of computer navigation on leg axis accuracy, correction variability, and radiation exposure.
• To discuss complications, pitfalls, and posterior tibial slope control in navigated HTO.

Main Methods:

• Utilized computer navigation systems for real-time, multiplane measurements of leg axis during surgery.
• Enabled intraoperative adjustments to compensate for preoperative planning limitations.
• Reviewed clinical results, complications, and radiation time associated with navigated HTO.

Main Results:

• Computer navigation significantly improves postoperative leg axis accuracy.
• Reduced correction variability and fewer outliers were observed with navigated HTO.
• Significantly reduced intraoperative radiation time compared to conventional methods.

Conclusions:

• Computer navigation is a valuable tool for open wedge high tibial osteotomy, enhancing precision and safety.
• The technology allows for real-time adjustments, leading to more accurate and consistent surgical outcomes.
• Navigated HTO offers benefits including reduced radiation exposure and improved control over tibial slope.