The radiologic and clinical results of High Tibial Osteotomies (HTO) strongly rely on the accuracy of correction, and inadequate intraoperative measurements of the leg axis can lead to over or under- correction. Over the past few years, navigation systems have been proven that navigation systems provide reliable real-time intro-operative information, may increase accuracy, and improves the precision of orthopaedic surgeries. We assessed the radiological and clinical results of navigation- assisted open wedge HTO versus conventional HTO at 24 months after surgery.

A total of sixty-five open wedge HTOs were performed using navigation system and compared with forty-six open HTOs that had been performed using the conventional cable technique in terms of intraoperative leg axis assess. The Orthopilot navigation system (HTO version 1.3, B. Braun Aesculap, Tuttligen, Germany) used throughout the procedure of navigated open wedge HTO. The aim of the correction was to achieve of 3°of valgus (2–4°) on both method. For the radiological evaluation, postoperative leg axes were examined using weight bearing full-leg radiography obtained at postoperative two years after surgery. To assess correction accuracies, we compared mechanical tibiofemoral angles and intersections of the mechanical axis of the tibial plateau (%) in both groups. Outliers were defined as under-corrections of < 2° of valgus and as over-corrections of > 5° of valgus. The posterior slope of the proximal tibia was measured using the proximal tibial anatomical axis (PTAA) method. HSS (Hospital for Special Surgery) scores and ROMs (ranges of motion) were evaluated and all complications were recorded and surgical and radiation times were measured.

Navigated HTOs corrected mechanical axes to 2.8° valgus (range −3.1∼5.3) with few outliers (9.5%), and maintained posterior slopes (8.5±2.3° preoperatively and 11.0±2.8° postoperatively) (P>0.05). In the conventional group, the mean valgus correction was satisfactory (2.2° valgus), but only 67.4% were within the required range (2∼5° valgus), and 26.1% of cases were under-corrected and 6.5% of cases were over-corrected. Posterior slope increased from 8.0° to 10.6° on average without significant change after surgery. Total fluoroscopic radiation time during navigated HTO was 8.1 seconds (5∼12s) as compared with 46.2 seconds (28∼64 s) during conventional HTO (p<0.05). The surgery time for navigated HTO was 11.2 minutes longer than for conventional HTO (55.5 minutes). No specific complications related to the navigation were encountered. At clinical follow up, mean HSS scores of the navigated HTO and conventional groups improved to 91.8 and 92.5 from preoperative values of 55.3 and 55.9, respectively (p>0.05), and all patients achieved full ROM.

Navigation for HTO significantly improved the accuracy of postoperative leg axis, and decreased the variability of correction with fewer outliers, and without any complications. Moreover, it allows multi-plane measurements to be made, in the sagittal and transverse planes as well as the frontal plane intra-operatively in real time, compensates to some extent for preoperative planning shortcomings based on radiography, and significantly reduces radiation time.