Valgus high tibial osteotomy (HTO) represents an effective treatment for patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis (OA) in a varus knee. However, the mechanisms which cause this clinical improvement are unclear. Previous studies suggest a wider stance gait can reduce medial compartment loading via reduction in the external knee adduction moment (KAM); a measure implicated in progression of medial compartment OA. This study aimed to measure whether valgus HTO is associated with a postoperative increase in static stance width. 32 patients, recruited in the Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre Versus Arthritis HTO study, underwent valgus (medial opening wedge) HTO. Weightbearing pre- and post- operative radiographs were taken showing both lower limbs. The horizontal distance, measured from a fixed point on the right talus to the corresponding point on the left, was divided by the talus width to give a standardised “stance width” for each radiograph. The difference between pre- and post- operative stance width was compared for each patient using a paired sample t-test.Abstract
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