Skip to main content
Book cover

Arthroscopy pp 387–397Cite as

Arthroscopic Treatment of Knee Stiffness

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 2739 Accesses

Abstract

A loss of range of motion, commonly defined as stiffness, is a relatively common complication after knee surgery or traumatic injury [1]. The high incidence of postoperative knee stiffness observable in the past reduced significantly with improvement of surgical techniques and rehabilitation protocols [2]. Any symptomatic loss of knee flexion or extension compared with the opposite normal knee should be considered and treated as knee stiffness. In order to address conservative or surgical therapy, the cause, the type and the degree of stiffness must be identified and staged.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kim DH, Gill TJ, Millett PJ. Arthroscopic treatment of the arthrofibrotic knee. Arthroscopy. 2004;20 suppl 2:187–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Austin JC, Phornphutkul C, Wojtys EM. Loss of knee extension after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: effects of knee position and graft tensioning. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(7):1565–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Harner CD, Irrgang JJ, Paul J, et al. Loss of motion after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 1992;20:499–506.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Said S, Christiansen SE, Faunoe P, et al. Outcome of surgical treatment of arthrofibrosis following ligament reconstruction. 2011. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2011;19(10):1704–8.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jackson DW, Schaefer RK. Cyclops syndrome. Loss of extension following intra-articular anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy. 1990;6:171–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Paulos LE, Rosemberg TD, Drawbert J. Infrapatellar contracture syndrome: an unrecognized cause of knee stiffness with patella entrapment and patella infera. Am J Sports Med. 1987;15:331–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Caton J, Deschamps G, Chambat P, et al. Patella infera. A propos of 128 cases. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot. 1982;68(5):317–25.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Dejour D, Ferrua P, Ntagiopoulos PG, et al. The introduction of a new MRI index to evaluate sagittal patellofemoral engagement. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2013;99(8 suppl):S391–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Shelbourne KD, Patel DV. Treatment of limited motion after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 1999;7:85–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Sprague 3rd NF, O’Connor RL, Fox JM. Arthroscopic treatment of postoperative knee fibroarthrosis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1982;166:165–72.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Shelbourne KD, Patel DV, Martini DJ. Classification and management of arthrofibrosis of the knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med. 1996;24:857–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cosgarea AJ, DeHaven KE, Lovelock JE. The surgical treatment of arthrofibrosis of the knee. Am J Sports Med. 1994;22(2):184–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Shelbourne KD, Johnson GE. Outpatient surgical management of arthrofibrosis after anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Am J Sports Med. 1994;22:192–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Bianchi M, Berruto M, Pellegrini A. Il trattamento artroscopico delle rigidità articolari acquisite del ginocchio. Estratto LXXX congresso SIOT. Rome: Antonio Delfino Editore; 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Noyes FR, Berrios-Torres S, Barber-Westin SD, et al. Prevention of permanent arthrofibrosis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction alone or combined with associated procedures: a prospective study in 443 knees. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2000;8(4):196–206.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Werner BC, Cancienne JM, Miller MD, et al. Incidence of manipulation under anesthesia or lysis of adhesions after arthroscopic knee surgery. Am J Sports Med. 2015;43(7):1656–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Mayr HO, Weig T, Plitz W. Arthrofibrosis following ACL reconstruction: reasons and outcome. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2004;124:518–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Chen MR, Dragoo JL. Arthroscopic releases for arthrofibrosis of the knee. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2011;19:709–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Steadman JR, Dragoo JL, Hines SL, et al. Arthroscopic release for symptomatic scarring of the anterior interval of the knee. Am J Sports Med. 2008;36(9):1763–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. LaPrade RF, Pedtke AC, Roethle ST. Arthroscopic posteromedial capsular release for knee flexion contractures. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2008;16(5):469–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Mariani PP. Arthroscopic release of the posterior compartments in the treatment of extension deficit of the knee. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2010;18(6):736–41.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Pujol N, Boisrenoult P, Beaufils P. Post-traumatic knee stiffness: surgical techniques. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2015;101(1 suppl):S179–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dejour D, Levigne C, Dejour H. Postoperative low patella. Treatment by lengthening of patellar tendon. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot. 1995;81(4):286–95.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Caton JH, Dejour D. Tibial tubercle osteotomy in patello-femoral instability and in patellar height abnormality. Int Orthop. 2010;34(2):305–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Judet R, Judet J, Lagrange J. Une technique de liberation de l’appariel extenseur dans les raideurs du genou. Mem Acad Chir. 1956;82:944–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Oliveira VG, D’Elia LF, Tirico LE, et al. Judet quadricepsplasty in the treatment of posttraumatic knee rigidity: long-term outcomes of 45 cases. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(2):E77–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Mahran M, El Batrawy Y, Sala F, et al. Quadricepsplasty: a sustained functional achievement in front of a deteriorated flexion gain. Injury. 2014;45(10):1643–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Massimo Berruto .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 ESSKA

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Berruto, M. et al. (2016). Arthroscopic Treatment of Knee Stiffness. In: Randelli, P., Dejour, D., van Dijk, C., Denti, M., Seil, R. (eds) Arthroscopy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49376-2_30

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49376-2_30

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-49374-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-49376-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics