New procedures for tightening knee collateral ligaments in conjunction with knee realignment osteotomy.

Collateral ligament laxity has recently been recognized as an important component of frontal plane malalignment. The authors have developed new surgical techniques to re-tension lax collateral ligaments. Twenty-three collateral ligament re-tensioning with bony alignment were carried out in 17 patients, with 19 knees being graded excellent, 2 fair, and 2 poor. Recurrence of significant laxity was noted in one patient.