[Treatment of dysfunction of the knee joint in rheumatoid arthritis by fascial interposition]

A surgical treatment method consisting in sewing on of the fascia lata on the cartilageless, loaded and needing painless sliding parts of the joint has been presented. In order to transform the fascia into the painless fibrous cartilage, it is necessary to begin early postoperative rehabilitation as soon as at 4-7 days after operation and continue until maximal function and efficiency of the knee is achieved. The follow-up was up to 4 years and full function was found in 11 patients, improvement after partial patients, and no improvement in 6 patients. Better results were obtained after partial rather than total interposition. Poor results were found in the patients with great contracture and muscular atrophy before operation and with difficulties in rehabilitation caused by other joints. Thus, interpositions is contraindicated in late age, great deformations and difficulties in rehabilitation. This method may fill the empty place in the treatment methods between synovectomy and alloplasty of the knee.