Description
The video presentation features Dr. Gemma Whatling, a senior lecturer at Cardiff University, who discusses research conducted at the Versus Arthritis Center. The focus of the study is on evaluating biomechanical changes following high tibial osteotomy (HTO) surgery for patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis, primarily impacting the medial side of the knee joint. Dr. Whatling explains that knee osteoarthritis is often characterized by joint space narrowing due to cartilage degeneration, leading to painful mechanical issues, particularly load-bearing on the affected side during walking.
The presentation conveys how high tibial osteotomy is performed to realign the knee, shifting the load from the deteriorating medial compartment to the healthier lateral side, thereby alleviating pain and slowing the progression of osteoarthritis.
A detailed analysis of a cohort of 18 patients who underwent the surgery is shared, highlighting the significant impact of HTO on knee loading dynamics before and after the operation. Notably, there was a 40% reduction in the knee adduction angular impulse post-surgery, with metrics aligning closely with those from a control group. Additionally, alterations in loading were observed in both frontal and transverse planes of knee mechanics, indicating improvements across multiple dimensions of joint behavior following surgery.
Other findings detail improvements in gait patterns and the restoration of normal hip and ankle mechanics post-surgery, suggesting a holistic recovery process involving multiple joints and motion planes. The talk concludes with acknowledgments and emphasizes the need for continued research and rehabilitation efforts to optimize recovery following HTO.