[Problems of surgical management of old knee joint injuries]

The problems in reconstructive surgery of old ligamentous injuries arise with the claim for restoration of normal function and anatomy. Based on new findings they are achieved by passive stabilization of the injured ligamentous structures as well as by their active reinforcement by the hamstring muscles. Surgical procedures may be traced back to a sort of integrated system; according to our own experiences these can be performed in any combination when reconstructing rotatory instabilities. Procedures eliminating one plain instability should only be applied with special indication.