[High tibial osteotomy for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee].

Objective: To summarize clinical application of the high tibial osteatomy (HTO) with lateral closing-wedge for the treatment of pain of unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee.
Methods: From February 2000 to February 2004,9 patients (3 males and 6 females, ranging in age from 52 to 58 years, with an average of 56 years) with unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee treated by HTO with lateral closing-wedge. The proximal tibiofibular joint was exposed, the anterior part of the capsule was incised, and to remove a laterally based wedge with saw cuts and osteotomes. Stepped staples were used for the fixation of tibial osteotomies after closing the defect of osteotomy.
Results: The operative course was uneventful. There were no complications after operation. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 2 to 5.5 years (mean, 3.5 years). The results were evaluated with functional assessment criterion of the osteoarthritis of the knee, among the 9 cases, excellent was in 5 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case.
Conclusion: HTO with lateral closing-wedge is an effective operative method for the treatment of pain of unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee, but except for older patients over 60 years.