Successful Correction of Idiopathic Bilateral Flexion Deformity of Knee: A Rare Case Report

Bilateral Flexion Deformity commonly results secondary to cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, haemophilia etc. It is accompanied by valgus deformity and external rotation at knee in long standing cases secondary to the contracture of the iliotibial tract. Flexion deformity at knees is an impediment to the normal ambulation and is difficult to address.

A 34 year old male presented with bilateral knee stiffness. He had multifocal tuberculosis and was bed ridden for almost a year and consequently developed bilateral knee flexion deformity of 60o with further flexion upto 120o. Patient was treated with gradual distraction using a modified external fixator and achieved full correction at the end of 6 weeks. At final followup patient was walking comfortably and was able to squat and sit crossed legged.

Idiopathic isolated bilateral flexion deformity of knees is very rare and is an impediment to normal ambulation. Arthrodiastasis with indigenously designed fixator using the Ilizarov principle and modified fixator is a simple, efficient and cost effective treatment for flexion deformity of knee.