Bone Grafting Outcomes in Smokers Undergoing High Tibial Osteotomy: A Systematic Review

This systematic review summarises the findings in the literature available to show outcomes of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) with bone grafting in smokers. It also studies the trend of complications, outcome measures used and overall outcomes like union, non-union or the need to perform revision surgeries. The aim is to find out if HTO done with bone grafting improves outcomes in smokers. Articles were shortlisted using Population, Intervention, Control, and Outcomes (PICO) search design and quality assessment was completed using Jadad, STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology), Delphi, and Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) followed by data extraction by two independent authors. There was union in 97.6% of smokers who received HTO with bone grafting. A case of non-union was treated with removal of metalwork and distraction osteogenesis. Three cases of unknown demographics had arthroplasty in the time frame from HTO with bone grafting to follow up. The commonest complication post surgery was metalwork causing soft tissue irritation and lateral proximal tibial cortex fracture. Following this review we can conclude that HTO with bone grafting could be considered as an option to achieve better outcomes in smokers. Bone grafting helps healing across osteotomy sites in smokers whose healing potential is poor. Autogenous Iliac crest bone grafting is ideal due to its osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties, but has the disadvantage of donor site morbidity.