Collateral ligament laxity of the knee. Long-term comparison between plateau fractures and normal.

Bilateral varus-valgus knee-stress roentgenograms were made in 208 patients with unilateral single tibial-plateau fracture. Martin's so-called clear space was used to measure the laxity of the collateral ligaments and statistical analysis showed no increased laxity in the possibility injured ligaments. A vacuum phenomenon was produced in 36 per cent and ligament calcification was noted in 16 per cent of the knees tested.