[The surgical treatment of knee joint extensor muscle contractures]

It is reported about the results after operative mobilization of knee joint in 19 patients with contractures of extension muscles of knee joints. After operative arthrolysis and/or Payr-Plasty the range of motion has increased on average from 23 degrees to 92 degrees (a relative gain of 52%). Patients with traumatic knee contracture of extension muscle achieved an improvement in the range of movement on average by 76 degrees, whereas those with contracture due to infection improved on average by only 43 degrees. The etiology, the duration, and the preoperative loss of movement are important for success of treatment.