title: Gait analysis following medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is used to treat young and active patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and varus deformity. The medial compartment OA alters the patients' gait.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was carried out in 21 consecutive patients operated for HTO due to knee OA with varus deformity. There were 14 men and 7 women, with a median age of 51.9 years (38-64). Their gait was analyzed preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively, and compared to a healthy control group. Clinical assessment (KOOS, WOMAC, Lysholm, and SF-36 scores) was also performed preoperatively and postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with medial compartment OA had altered gait relative to the control population. Their walking speed was slower, step length was shorter, and single-leg stance time was shorter, while the double-leg stance time was longer (P < 0.001). Step width was not different between the two groups preoperatively (n.s.), but it was wider in the patient group postoperatively (P = 0.003). There were no differences in the patients' gait parameters before and after the osteotomy (n.s.). However, there was an improved perception of walking so that it is no longer different from controls (n.s.). The KOOS, WOMAC, Lysholm and SF-36 scores improved after HTO. The preoperative median of 7° varus (1-11) was corrected to 3° valgus (0-6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medial compartment OA with varus deformity leads to gait modifications. HTO does not alter the time-distance parameters of gait; however, patients have improved perception of their walking ability. HTO leads to excellent results for knee function, and improves quality of life without modifying the gait pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sport Traumatology, Grenoble South Teaching Hospital, 38130, Echirolles, France. vmorin1@chu-grenoble.fr.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sport Traumatology, Grenoble South Teaching Hospital, 38130, Echirolles, France.
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pailhé
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sport Traumatology, Grenoble South Teaching Hospital, 38130, Echirolles, France.
authors.forename: Brice Rubens
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Duval
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sport Traumatology, Grenoble South Teaching Hospital, 38130, Echirolles, France.
authors.forename: Roch
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mader
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sport Traumatology, Grenoble South Teaching Hospital, 38130, Echirolles, France.
authors.forename: Jérémy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cognault
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sport Traumatology, Grenoble South Teaching Hospital, 38130, Echirolles, France.
authors.forename: René-Christopher
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rouchy
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sport Traumatology, Grenoble South Teaching Hospital, 38130, Echirolles, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saragaglia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D056305:Genu Varum / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Gait analysis; High tibial osteotomy; Knee; Medial compartment arthritis; Varus knee osteoarthritis; Varus malalignment