title: Autologous Osteophyte Grafting for Open-Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Akiyama Clinic, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamanomachi Hospital, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Takenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamanomachi Hospital, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mawatari
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamanomachi Hospital, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikemura
authors.affiliation: Akiyama Clinic, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura