Restoration of the Knee Medial Collateral Ligament and Complete Soft-tissue Coverage After Medial Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy.

Abstract

High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is used in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. This surgical procedure is indicated in patients with medial osteoarthritis who are relatively young and active and have a good range of motion. In most medial open-wedge HTO cases, the fascia, medial collateral ligament (MCL), and part of the knee joint capsule are carefully separated and moved to expose the osteotomy site, but many patients experience postoperative swelling and pain in the affected limb due to bleeding from the osteotomy site and MCL failure. We have developed a method of osteotomy followed by a restoration of the MCL to its anatomic position and complete soft-tissue coverage of the osteotomy. This Technical Note aims to provide a comprehensive description of the employment of a soft-tissue envelope for the MOW-HTO protection.