Bone allograft provides bone healing in the medial opening high tibial osteotomy

Abstract

Various materials are used to fill osteotomy defects created in the medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO). Our hypothesis was that a bone allograft would provide the osteotomy site bone healing within the expected time. We performed the MOWHTO using a cancellous bone allograft in 310 knees in 284 patients between 2000 and 2005. Internal fixation was achieved with a T-profile AO plate. Preoperative and postoperative radiographic measurements were taken and statistically processed. All patients were followed up for a period ranging from three to eight years, or 5.9 years on average. Implanted cancellous bone allografts <or=9 mm healed within 12 weeks in 90% of cases. With the properly selected patient and surgical technique, use of a cancellous bone allograft in MOWHTO represents a satisfactory choice in providing bone healing.