MedPath

A Randomized Trial Comparing High Tibial Osteotomy Plus Non-Surgical Treatment and Non-Surgical Treatment Alone

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Knee Osteoarthritis
Interventions
Other: Non-Surgical Treatment Program
Procedure: Medial Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO)
Registration Number
NCT02003976
Lead Sponsor
Western University, Canada
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) receiving optimized non-surgical treatment plus surgical realignment of the tibia, or optimized non-surgical treatment only. We hypothesize that outcomes assessed at 12 and 24 months follow-up will suggest favourable changes in patients undergoing surgical realignment when compared to patients receiving non-surgical treatment only.

Detailed Description

This two groups, parallel design randomized controlled trial will compare patients with medial compartment knee OA and varus alignment receiving optimized non-surgical treatment plus High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO) to similar patients receiving optimized non-surgical treatment only. All participants will receive non-surgical treatment that will be individualized to the patient and include medications, physiotherapy and nutritional seminars. The non-surgical treatment will include supervised physiotherapy and nutritional seminars once per week for 12 weeks, will be accompanied and followed by a home program, and follow-up appointments for potential modification every three months for the duration of the study. Participants randomized to surgery will also undergo medial opening wedge HTO after 12 weeks of optimized non-surgical treatment. Both groups will follow the same schedule of clinic visits throughout the 24 month follow-up period. MRI-derived measures of articular cartilage morphology, biological markers of articular cartilage degradation and synthesis, gait biomechanics and patient-reported outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 12 and 24 months follow-up.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
71
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Is the subject either:

    1. 25-55 years old?
    2. Older than 55 but still active (ex. physical labour, regular recreational activities)?
  2. Does this subject present with varus alignment? (Based on hip to ankle x-rays).

  3. Does this subject have clinical Knee OA? (MAA <-2° on full limb standing AP) according to the Altman classification primarily involving the medial compartment of the knee?

  4. Patient is a good candidate for high tibial osteotomy and will be receiving a PEEK plate, or if receiving an alternate plate, agrees to have the plate removed prior to 1 year postoperative.

Exclusion Criteria
  1. Has this subject had a previous HTO or joint replacement in either limb?
  2. Is this subject likely to undergo bilateral HTO within the 2 year follow up period?
  3. Does this subject have an unstable knee or ligament?
  4. Does this subject have inflammatory or infectious arthritis of the knee?
  5. Radiographic disease too advanced for HTO (ie. diffuse lateral compartment, patellofemoral joint OA and/or severe enough disease to suggest that joint replacement is the better surgical option) and/or Kellgren and Lawrence grade 4.
  6. The subject's disease is not advanced enough (symptomatically or radiographically) to warrant HTO.
  7. Does this subject have a major medical illness with life expectancy <2 years or with an unacceptably high operative risk?
  8. Does this subject have a major neurological deficit that would affect gait?
  9. Is this subject possibly pregnant or planning pregnancy?
  10. Is this subject unable to read English?
  11. Does this subject have a psychiatric illness that limits informed consent?
  12. Is the subject unlikely to comply with study protocol?

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Non-Surgical TreatmentNon-Surgical Treatment ProgramThe optimized non-surgical treatment program consists of medications, physiotherapy and nutritional seminars. The 12-week program will include an assessment by a primary care physician, physiotherapist and orthopaedic surgeon, one supervised physiotherapy session per week, one body recomposition session per week, and a home program. After the 12-week program is completed, patients randomized to this group will continue with their home program and will be followed up for 2 years after baseline.
Non-Surgical Treatment plus HTOMedial Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO)The optimized non-surgical treatment program consists of medications, physiotherapy and nutritional seminars. The 12-week program will include an assessment by a primary care physician, physiotherapist and orthopaedic surgeon, one supervised physiotherapy session per week, one body recomposition session per week, and a home program. After the 12-week program is completed, patients randomized to this group will undergo a medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO). They will continue with their home program and will be followed up for 2 years after baseline.
Non-Surgical Treatment plus HTONon-Surgical Treatment ProgramThe optimized non-surgical treatment program consists of medications, physiotherapy and nutritional seminars. The 12-week program will include an assessment by a primary care physician, physiotherapist and orthopaedic surgeon, one supervised physiotherapy session per week, one body recomposition session per week, and a home program. After the 12-week program is completed, patients randomized to this group will undergo a medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO). They will continue with their home program and will be followed up for 2 years after baseline.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
MRI articular cartilage morphologyChange from baseline to 24 months post operative

3 Tesla MRI measure of medial tibiofemoral articular cartilage thickness

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Numeric Rating Scale for PainBaseline, 12 and 24 months post operative

Patient-reported outcome measure. Assesses patient's pain. 0 (no pain) - 10 (worst possible pain)

Gait BiomechanicsBaseline, 12 and 24 months post operative

Knee frontal, sagittal and transverse plane kinematics and kinetics tested during level walking in a motion analysis laboratory. The measure of most interest is the peak external knee adduction moment during stance phase of walking.

Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)Change from baseline to 24 months post operative

Patient-reported outcome measure. 5 subdomains: pain, symptoms, activities of daily living, sport and recreation, quality of life

Biological Markers of Disease ProgressionBaseline, 12 and 24 months post operative

Synovial fluid, serum and urine biological markers

Short-Form 12 (SF12)Change from baseline to 24 months post operative

Patient-reported outcome measure. Self-reported outcome measure assessing the impact of health on an individual's everyday life

Western Ontario Meniscal Evaluation Tool (WOMET)Change from baseline to 24 months post operative

Patient-reported outcome measure. Assesses health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with meniscal tears. 3 dimensions: physical symptoms, sports/recreation/work/lifestyle, emotions

Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC)Change from baseline to 24 months post operative

Patient-reported outcome measure. 3 sub domains: pain, symptoms, function

Isometric Strength TestingBaseline, 12 and 24 months post operative

Isometric quadriceps and hamstrings strength tested using an isokinetic dynamometer.

Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain Index (ICOAP)Change from baseline to 24 months post operative

Patient-reported outcome measure. Assesses pain in individuals with hip or knee osteoarthritis taking into account both constant and intermittent pain. 3 domains: intermittent pain, constant pain, total pain

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Fowler Kennedy Sport Medicine Clinic, Western University

🇨🇦

London, Ontario, Canada

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath