Editorial Commentary: Measurements for Successful High Tibial Osteotomy: Understanding Supine Versus Standing and...

A high tibial osteotomy (HTO) that is used to correct varus malalignment, such as with medial arthrosis or before cartilage restoration or posterolateral reconstructions, represents an important and required surgery for clinical success. A major problem that occurs with HTO planning is that the preoperative measurements, with either lower limb supine or standing weight-bearing radiographs, will invariably show abnormal medial or lateral tibiofemoral compartment opening resulting from soft-tissue laxity or injury. It is imperative that this tibiofemoral joint opening be accounted for in the osteotomy correction calculations. There are well-described methods available that affect operative planning, such as the use of preoperative stress radiographs to determine the millimeters of tibiofemoral opening or closure. The use of intraoperative fluoroscopy with application of axial loading to the lower limb and verification of closure of the tibiofemoral joint is recommended. A careful fluoroscopic examination of the tibiofemoral compartments allows a final adjustment of the osteotomy correction and confirms the final weight-bearing line percent measurement and limb alignment. Postoperative radiographs are required to detect outliers resulting from unexpected soft-tissue laxity or inadequate correction.