The oldest, the finest and one of the best surgery for early to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee joint. High Tibial osteotomy or HTO as popularly known has been developed to make the alignment of the lower limbs normal. By correcting the alignment, HTO aims to decrease the osteoarthritic changes in knee joint and at the same time allows healing of the already damaged knee joint; hence this surgery prolongs the life of a natural knee joint.
HTO surgery is done in cases of early osteoarthritis of knee joint in which the weight bearing axis of the lower limb passes abnormally from inner aspect of the knee joint.
Early osteoarthritis of knee joint irrespective of the age
Genu vara (Bowing of the tibia) with signs of degeneration
HTO surgery involves making of a controlled fracture(osteotomy) in upper part of tibia (leg bone) through which the limb is re-aligned so that the weight bearing axis passes through the mid line so that the weight is shifted away from inner aspect of the knee joint. This ultimately helps in relieving the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee joint and helps in healing of the degenerated knee.
After the fracture is made surgically, intra-operative checking of full correction is made by gradually opening the fracture. Once it is done the fracture is closed again and the HTO Clamp is applied. So the patient goes in the operation theatre with the mal-aligned knee joint and comes out with the same mal-alignment with osteotomy and HTO Clamp applied.
On the seventh day of surgery, the distraction is started which is done at a rate of 1 mm / day.The amount of correction is determined by doing regular radiograph of the limb. The correction is done by the patient only and he/she does not has to visit the hospital for the same. Once the alignment is corrected, the clamp is locked upon and remained there till the fracture heals. Once the fracture heals, the clamp is removed which is a day care procedure and it takes only 10 minutes to complete it. There is no need to get admitted in the hospital.
Full Weight bearing can be started as soon as possible
The correction of mal-alignment remains in our hands. So no chance of failure of the surgery. Yes you read it right. NO CHANCE OF FAILURE OF SURGERY
Minimal to no chance of the osteotomy related complications
After the role of Clamp is over. It is removed from the body. Hense nothing remain in the body. Isn’t it fabulous!!
The same clamp can be used for the opposite limb which will help the patient economically.
Having said all ofthis,there are few patients who do not want the treatment by the clamp. For them Dr. Tarkik offers similarly great surgery in which a plate is used instead of the clamp. Both the type of surgeries give equal results with different advantages of both of them. To choose which type of surgery to undergo Dr. Tarkik eases out that process.
A 52 year old female was suffering from left knee joint pain since2 years. After taking several medications and sessions of physiotherapy, she continued to have pain over her left knee. Then she consulted Dr Tarkik Amin and after thorough examination she was diagnosed to have malalignment of her knee joint.So she was advised a surgery for her knee preservation. A specialised surgery was performed with HTO Clamp. Patient was advised for weight bearing 15 days after the surgery. After 3 months of surgery ,her clamp was removed and she continued with her daily life without pain and happiness of saving her natural knee joint.
