Medial capsular recession for severe varus deformities.

Medial capsular recession is an effective method of correcting preoperative fixed varus knee deformities at the time of total knee arthroplasty. If the flexion and extension spaces are properly balanced and filled, knee stability is achievable. Sixty-eight knees that had medial capsular recession were followed for at least 2 years after surgery, 19 of them for more than 10 years, with a mean follow-up period of 4.8 years. Of these knees, 73% had less than 5 degrees of postoperative varus/valgus instability with no deterioration during the follow-up period. Attenuation or rupture of the medial flap occurred in only two knees. There was no statistical difference in ultimate range of motion, alignment, or presence of bone-cement radiolucencies between knees with medial recession and those without medial recession.