Finite element analysis of novel medial opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy plate: “High tibial osteotomy 7-plate”

Objectives: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a well-established surgical technique primarily employed to correct knee varus deformity and treat medial compartment osteoarthritis in the knee. However, traditional plate designs used for HTO often encounter challenges, particularly when HTO is combined with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, where the traditional plate usually has limited bone space for graft fixation. Methods: This study evaluates the mechanical behavior of a novel HTO 7-plate implant through comprehensive finite element analysis. The investigation was conducted under two primary physiological loading conditions: Axial (tensile) and compression. The simulation meticulously analyzed key mechanical parameters, including displacement, strain, and von Mises stress, under varying applied forces of 250 N, 500 N, and 750 N. Results: The consistent results demonstrated that all calculated stress values remained significantly below the approximately 300 MPa yield strength of SS316L stainless steel. Conclusion: This study’s findings indicate that the novel implant design is mechanically safe and robust under the simulated physiological loading scenarios, suggesting its potential for reliable clinical application.