Arthroscopic Adhesiolysis of Knee Ankylosis

Bae, Dae Kyung; Kim, Bong Keun; Kim, Sang Hoon; Park, Seung Myeon

Abstract

Severe limitation of knee motion is a complication of operative procedures or trauma about the knee. Physical therapy and occasionally manipulation of knee with anesthesia may improve results when performed soon after the onset of motion limitation. When performed later, these have been proven less useful. This is a review of 15 patients who had severe limitation of knee motion following open operative procedures or trauma about knee and were treated by percutaneous release of adhesions under arthroscopic control. There were eleven males and four females, ranging in age from 23-67years(mean 38 years). The interval between the last open operative procedure or trauma and arthroscopic adhesiolysis ranged from three and half months to four years(mean 11.5 months). The interval between arthroscopic adhesiolysis and final follow-up evaluation ranged from 6 months to 3 years(mean 1.5 years). Average preoperative knee motion was 38.2 degrees. After arthroscopic adhesiolysis, maximum knee motion under anesthesia was 120.3 degrees and average final motion at follow-up was 101.2 degrees. The results of treatment of treatment of Tbc knee sequalae with secondary osteoarthritis and pyogenic arthritis were less favorable for motion improvement. Arthroscopic adhesiolysis seems to be a useful method of treatment in knee ankylosis. Morbidity was low, complications were few and the duration of hospital stay was short.