[Soft tissue balancing in valgus gonarthrosis]

Implanting a condylar knee in patients with valgus deformity is challenging both for the surgeon and in terms of clinical instrumentation. Valgus deformity - defined as an anatomic angle >10 degrees - consists of a bony and a soft tissue component. Frequently, the lateral femoral condyle is hypoplastic and can create a secondary osteochondral lesion on the tibial plateau. Concomitantly, there is a soft tissue contracture of the lateral side with an elongation of the medial collateral ligament. Correction of the deformity and restoration of anatomic alignment should be achieved to maximize the longevity of the replaced components. Soft tissue balancing is crucial for successful treatment. This is achieved if a symmetrical flexion and extension gap together with a centralized patella position is obtained. We describe our surgical approach to address valgus deformities in primary total knee arthroplasty with special emphasize on a stepwise release of tight lateral capsular and ligamentous structures controlled by a knee balancer.