Classification and management of arthrofibrosis of the knee after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

• Published in: The American journal of sports medicine Vol. 24; no. 6; p. 857
• Main Authors: Shelbourne, K D, Patel, D V, Martini, D J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.1996
• Subjects: Anterior Cruciate Ligament - surgery; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; Arthroscopy; Contracture - classification; Contracture - etiology; Contracture - physiopathology; Contracture - surgery; Fibrosis; Humans; Knee Injuries - surgery; Knee Joint - pathology; Knee Joint - physiopathology; Postoperative Complications - classification; Postoperative Complications - surgery; Range of Motion, Articular
• ISSN: 0363-5465
• DOI: 10.1177/036354659602400625

We report 72 patients with disabling knee arthrofibrosis who were treated at our clinic. All patients had painful restriction of extension or limitation of both extension and flexion that had persisted despite physical therapy. The level of arthrofibrosis was categorized into one of four types: Type 1 (25 patients), < 10 degree extension loss and normal flexion; Type 2 (16 patients), > 10 degree extension loss and normal flexion; Type 3 (15 patients), > 10 degree extension loss and > 25 degree flexion loss with a tight patella; and Type 4 (16 patients), > 10 degree extension loss, 30 degrees or more flexion loss, and patella infera with marked patellar tightness. All patients were treated with outpatient arthroscopic surgery. Anterior scar resection down to the proximal tibia was required for all patients with Types 2, 3, and 4 arthrofibrosis. Notchplasty was performed when necessary. Medial and lateral capsular releases and knee manipulation were required for patients with Type 3 or 4 arthrofibrosis. Postoperatively, all patients with Types 2, 3, and 4 arthrofibrosis were treated with outpatient serial extension casting. At the time of latest followup (28 to 115 months), the mean improvement of range of motion was as follows: Type 1, 7 degrees of extension; Type 2, 14 degrees of extension; Type 3, 13 degrees of extension and 28 degrees of flexion; and Type 4, 18 degrees of extension and 27 degrees of flexion. Improvement was also found for the mean stiffness, self-evaluation, functional activity, and Noyes knee scores in all groups.