Ligament Balancing in Total Knee Arthroplasty

The varus knee has a group of bone and ligament abnormalities that must be addressed to correct the deformity. The mechanical axis of the femur is tilted medially relative to the long axis of the tibia. The distal femoral surface usually remains in valgus alignment to the long axis of the femur. Most of the varus deformity is caused by deficiency in the medial tibial plateau. The deep and superficial medial collateral ligaments are contracted and deformed by osteophytes.