Autologous Osteophyte Grafting for Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy

• Main Authors: Takenori Akiyama, M.D., Ken Okazaki, M.D., Ph.D., Taro Mawatari, M.D., Ph.D., Satoshi Ikemura, M.D., Ph.D., Shunsuke Nakamura, M.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2016-10-01
• Series: Arthroscopy Techniques
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212628716300378

Osteophytes are physiological bony outgrowths that develop at the margins of the articular surfaces during the progression of osteoarthritis; they are associated with active endochondral bone formation processes and expressions of various growth factors. We believe they could be a source of bone grafts as a result of a potentially strong osteoinductive effect. Moreover, osteophytes can be easily harvested by arthroscopy in patients undergoing open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OW-HTO) for medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis. Therefore, we have been using osteophyte autografts for osteotomy gaps in OW-HTO with positive preliminary results indicating rapid bone healing of osteotomy sites. In this technical note, we introduce a technique for harvesting autologous osteophytes by arthroscopy and implanting them into the gap formed after OW-HTO. We expect that autologous osteophyte grafting can be a useful method for accelerating bone union and therefore enabling weight bearing from an early stage after surgery, which will lead to an early return to social activities.