Background: Osteotomy around the knee (OAK) is a joint-preserving surgery for knee osteoarthritis, yet some patients experience suboptimal outcomes. Preoperative identification of high-risk patients remains challenging. This study aimed to develop a machine learning model to predict clinical outcomes after OAK using preoperative gait acceleration data from inertial measurement units (IMUs). Methods: This multicenter prospective study enrolled patients undergoing OAK. Preoperative gait was recorded using synchronized IMUs placed on the lumbar spine and tibia. Lumbar and tibial signals were used for gait-cycle segmentation, while wavelet-based time–frequency features were extracted from tibial acceleration only. Outcomes were defined by achievement of the minimal clinically important difference in ≥3 KOOS subscales at 2-year follow-up (Good vs. Poor). Continuous wavelet transform features (5–20 Hz) were summarized as mean and standard deviation across six stance subphases. A Random Undersampling Boost classifier was trained and evaluated using nested leave-one-subject-out cross-validation. A sensitivity analysis using logistic regression confirmed that the IMU-based prediction score was independently associated with outcome after adjustment for baseline KOOS (p = 0.047). Results: Of 67 enrolled patients, 37 were classified as Good and 30 as Poor outcome. For machine learning analysis, 1173 tibial acceleration gait-cycle waveforms were usable. The model achieved an AUC of 0.744 (95% CI, 0.610–0.860) using a median of 15 features (range, 5–25) with sensitivity of 0.69 and specificity of 0.72. The most informative predictors were the mean magnitude in the 5–8 Hz band during loading response (0–17%) and variability in the 5–8 Hz band during late stance (67–83%). No significant differences in baseline demographics or radiographic parameters were found between outcome groups. Conclusions: Preoperative IMU-derived gait acceleration features showed moderate-to-good discrimination between outcome groups and may support preoperative risk stratification and individualized perioperative management.
Iwasaki et al. (2026) studied this question.