A prospective study of functional outcome of high tibial osteotomy

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease. It causes chronic disability; the degree of disability depends on the site involved. Knee Osteoarthritis is more common among all types of arthritic conditions. High tibial osteotomy is an accepted surgical technique for treatment of primary or secondary medial compartment degenerative arthritis of knee in younger and active patients. Hence this study is done to assess the functional outcome in patients undergoing High Tibial Osteotomy using knee society score and Functional score. Methodology: This is a prospective interventional, single centre study was done on 60 patients who were clinically and radiologically diagnosed as Osteoarthritis with varus deformity. After proper preoperative assessment, patient underwent high tibial osteotomy. The clinical outcome was evaluated with knee society score and functional score. The patients were followed up at regular intervals during 3rd, 6th and at 12th month. Results: The preoperative mean knee score and the mean functional score of the patients before surgery were 54.3 and 53.22 respectively. The postoperative mean knee score and functional score at 12 months was 82.3 and 81.5 respectively. So the preoperative and postoperative comparison score showed statistically significant improvement in both the knee society score and the functional score. Conclusion: In this study, there was significant increase in the knee score and functional score after high tibial osteotomy for the patients of osteoarthritis with Varus deformity. Therefore, High tibial osteotomy should be recommended for the treatment of degenerative arthritis of the knee in young, active patients for symptomatic improvement and maintenance of activity levels.