A national questionnaire survey on knee manipulation following total knee arthroplasty

Adequate range of knee motion is critical for successful total knee arthroplasty. While aggressive physical therapy is an important component, manipulation may be a necessary supplement. There seems to be a lack of consensus with variable practices existing in managing stiff postoperative knees following arthroplasty. Hence we aim to determine the current practice and trend among knee surgeons throughout the United Kingdom.

Postal questionnaires were sent out to 100 knee surgeons registered with British Association of Knee Surgeons, ensuring that the whole of United Kingdom was well represented. The questions included whether the surgeon used Manipulation Under Anaesthaesia (MUA) as an option for stiff postoperative knees; timing of MUA; use of Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) post-manipulation.

We received 82 responses. 46% of respondents performed MUA routinely, 43% sometimes, and 11 never. Majority (71.23%) performed MUA within 3 months of the index procedure. 68% routinely used CPM post-manipulation while 7% of the respondents applied splints or serial cast post MUA. 41% of the surgeons routinely used Patient Controlled Analgaesia ± Regional blocks. Majority (55%) never performed open/arthroscopic debridement of fibrous tissue for adhesiolysis.

Knee manipulation requires an additional anaesthetic and may result in complications such as: supracondylar femur fractures, wound dehiscence, patellar tendon avulsions, haemarthrosis, and heterotopic ossification. Moreover studies have shown that manipulation while being an important therapeutic adjunct does not increase the ultimate flexion achieved. Manipulation should be reserved for the patient with difficult and painful flexion in the early postoperative period.