The range of the required anterolateral cortex osteotomy distance varied widely in biplanar open wedge high tibial osteotomy.

Background: To evaluate the anterolateral cortex distance between the lateral edge of the flange and hinge point in surgical simulations of biplanar open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) using computed tomography (CT) images.

Methods: A total of 110 knees treated with OWHTO for medial knee osteoarthritis with varus malalignment were enrolled. Surgical simulations of biplanar OWHTO, including the transverse and ascending cuts, were performed in the standard manner using preoperative CT images. The distance between the lateral edge of the flange and the hinge point was measured. In addition, another plane of the ascending cut was defined through the hinge point. The angle between these two planes of the ascending cut was measured in the axial plane.

Results: The mean anterolateral cortex distance was 9.4 ± 4.6 mm (range, - 1.5 mm - 20.3 mm). In 3 knees, osteotomy of the anterolateral cortex was not needed. The mean value of the angle between the two ascending cut planes was 8.4 ± 3.6° (range, - 2.1° - 14.8°), which meant that osteotomy of anterolateral cortex was not needed when the ascending cut was performed at this angle. Moreover, these two values increased when the flange thickness was changed from one-third to one-fourth of the anteroposterior tibial diameter or the angle between the transverse and ascending cuts was changed from 110° to 120°.

Conclusions: In biplanar OWHTO, anterolateral cortex osteotomy would be required. However, the range of the required anterolateral cortex osteotomy distance varied widely and the required anterolateral cortex osteotomy distance depended on the flange thickness and the angle between the transverse and ascending cuts. In addition, change of the ascending cut plane can change the necessity of anterolateral cortex osteotomy.