Application of laser reticle equipment in medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy

Objective To observe the application effect of laser reticle equipment in medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy(MOWHTO).

Methods A total of 60 patients with knee osteoarthritis were included in the study, among whom 30 patients underwent traditional positioning method to measure the lower extremity alignment (control group) and 30 cases used a laser reticle equipment to display the lower extremity alignment in real time (observation group). The operation time, intraoperative C-arm usage times, drainage volume and OA distance were compared between two groups. The visual analogue scale (VAS), the knee function score of Hospital for Special Surgery(HSS) and the maximum angle of knee flexion were compared between two groups before operation and 3 and 6 months after the operation. The complications and adverse reactions of two groups were compared.

Results Compared with the control group, the operation time, volume of drainage, C-arm usage times and OA distance in the observation group were significantly reduced or shortened (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the VAS score of the observation group was lower and the knee HSS score was higher 3 months after surgery, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The maximum angle of knee bending 6 months after surgery showed significant difference compared with that 3 months after surgery (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group had a larger maximum bending angle 3 months after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The control group had one case of deep venous thrombosis of lower extremity, and no serious adverse reactions occurred after symptomatic treatment. No complications or adverse reactions occurred in the observation group.

Conclusion The laser reticle equipment used to mark the lower limb alignment in MOWHTO operation can shorten the operation time and OA distance, reduce drainage volume and C-arm usage times, and improve postoperative VAS score, knee HSS score and maximum knee flexion angle.