Surgical Procedure That Can Slow Knee Osteoarthritis Progression

A recent clinical trial conducted by the London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute and Western University has demonstrated that high tibial osteotomy (HTO), a precise surgical procedure, can significantly decelerate the progression of knee osteoarthritis. This surgery involves realigning the shinbone to reduce stress on the damaged parts of the knee joint, particularly benefiting patients with bowed legs—a known risk factor for disease advancement. The study, published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine," followed patients for two years, comparing outcomes between those who underwent HTO alongside non-surgical management and those who received only conservative treatment.

The results revealed that patients who received the surgery showed less cartilage deterioration, better walking mechanics, reduced pain, and improved quality of life. Advanced imaging techniques like MRI and gait analysis confirmed that the procedure resulted in a marked decrease in joint damage, with an average loss of only 2% of articular cartilage compared to 9% in non-surgical patients.

Dr. Trevor Birmingham, a lead researcher, emphasized that this procedure could modify the disease's course by changing how the knee bears weight during movement. Dr. J Robert Giffin, an orthopedic surgeon involved in the study, expressed optimism that more surgical centers would adopt HTO, given its potential to alter the disease trajectory and reduce disability caused by osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis remains the most common joint disorder worldwide, affecting over 500 million people and predominantly targeting the knees. Until now, treatments focused mainly on symptom relief, with limited options to halt or reverse the progression. The findings from this study open new avenues for disease-modifying surgical interventions that could benefit a large patient population.