HTO (High Tibial Osteotomy) (Knee Preserving Surgery) (Original Knee Preserving) Articular cartilage is the smooth, white tissue that covers the ends of bones where they come together to form joints. Healthy cartilage in our joints makes it easier to move. It allows the bones to glide over each other with very little friction. In knee joint, there are two compartments & is covered with cartilage. Usually there is equal load on both knee compartments on weight bearing in healthy knee joint. In osteoarthritis of knee joint, only one compartment is bearing weight instead of equal load on both the compartment due to varus or valgus deformity. After decades of year’s cartilage in load bearing compartment get damage & gradually cartilage destroys. In knee restoration surgery, osteotomy of upper tibia is done in such a way that load bearing force is diverted on normal unaffected healthy compartment of knee joint. So pain during weight is completely relieved. Moreover destroyed cartilage in affected compartment may gradually regenerate over a period of about one year by nature because of unloading of that compartment & increased vascularity in knee joint due to osteotomy. In this way normal healthy knee joint is preserved in osteoarthritis knee.
This surgery is for all age groups and one doesn’t have to live with pain to avoid knee replacement. This ‘HTO’ surgery is highly-skilled and safe where the knee is not opened at all and chances of Joint infection are almost nil. In this surgery, the knee is aligned to its normal axis without introducing any type of artificial element in Joint which otherwise gets sacrificed in knee replacement.
The ‘HTO’ surgery is so successful that there are instances of more than one family member undergoing it, to an extent that people have gone for it in both their knees.
People who have undergone this ‘HTO’ surgery can climb stairs easily, sit in cross-legged positions, sit on the floor, perform daily chores easily, drive vehicles, bend their knees, and even play sports.