While our goal with using stem cell injections is always to help patients avoid knee surgery and as a practice to continue to lead the development new technologies that will allow more patients to avoid knee surgery, the data on one common knee surgery, high tibial osteotomy, is looking better and better. This is in contrast to other studies showing other common orthopedic surgery procedures such as knee menisectomy and debridement of don’t provide measurable benefits and may worsen knee arthritis. High Tibial Osteotomy is performed when the patient has a severe varus or valgus alignment problem (side bend knee or bow legged/knock kneed). Some studies have recently shown better survival of cartilage on the side of the knee where pressure is relieved by the HTO surgery. Other studies reviewed on the blog have shown that returning to high impact sports after HTO knee surgery may or may not be possible, depending how you read the tea leaves. Now a new study out this week also shows improvement in walking biomechanics for these patients operated with HTO knee surgery. So while we’re not big fans of many common joint surgeries, this one seems to have mounting evidence that it likely helps patients.
Tags: high tibial osteotomy recovery, high tibial osteotomy recovery time
