Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether there are plans to make intramedullary high tibial osteotomy available on the NHS.

Intramedullary high tibial osteotomy (IMHTO) is a new procedure used to treat early-stage knee arthritis. The procedure involves inserting metal nail in the tibia and extending it with a remote-controlled magnet to realign the bone to relieve pressure on the knee.

IMHTO is currently being trialled in a European-wide research study. Its wider availability would be subject to it having demonstrated its clinical and cost effectiveness in this trial and any further trials deemed necessary to assess whether it is safe and effective to use.