RESULTS OF EXPANDED ARTHROLYSES OF THE KNEE-JOINT

This report shows the results of 20 patients, suffering on severe knee stiffness, who were treated between 1980-1989 at the Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik in Tubingen with an expanded knee arthrolysis. The knee stiffness of all patients was caused by trauma (65% polytrauma) or infection. More than 2/3 of the patients (70%) had a preperative degree of motion which was less than 60-degrees. In average 9 months after the initial trauma the expanded knee arthrolysis was performed. The arthrolysis was in most of the cases (n = 15) combined with a supracondylar correction osteotomy. The average preoperative range of motion from (ext./flex.) 0-15-62-degrees which corresponds to a relative improvement of motion of 43%. Eleven patients showed good or fair results. The prognosis of knee stiffness is influenced by the etiology, the preoperative loss of motion and the period of time between initial trauma and arthrolysis, and as well by the intraoperatively achieved range of motion and the post-operative application of continuous passive motion. The expanded arthrolysis of the knee is a usefull instrument in the therapy of severe posttraumtic knee stiffness.