Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
09:01
Treatment of Ankle Osteoarthritis with Total Ankle Replacement Through a Lateral Transfibular Approach
Published on: January 24, 2018
Etiology and surgical interventions for stiff total knee replacements
Alejandro González Della Valle1, Alejandro Leali, Steven Haas
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. gonzaleza@hss.edu
Summary
Stiffness after total knee replacement (TKR) is a common complication. While manipulation under anesthesia helps most patients, some require further surgery for persistent TKR stiffness.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Knee replacement stiffness is a frequent early complication, impacting 6-7% of patients.
- Evolving definitions of stiffness reflect improved functional outcome expectations post-total knee replacement (TKR).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the causes of stiffness after total knee replacement.
- To analyze the effectiveness of various surgical treatments for TKR stiffness.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on etiology and surgical interventions for post-TKR stiffness.
- Analysis of outcomes for manipulation under anesthesia and subsequent surgical procedures.
Main Results:
- Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) is effective for most patients within 3-4 months.
- Approximately 1% of patients require advanced surgical options like arthroscopy or revision surgery for refractory stiffness.
Conclusions:
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for managing stiffness after total knee replacement.
- Surgical options for persistent stiffness range from lysis of adhesions to component revision, with varying success rates.