Arthroplasty for the stiff or ankylosed knee.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Stiff and ankylosed knees significantly limit patient mobility and quality of life.
• Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common surgical intervention for end-stage knee arthritis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical outcomes of posterior stabilized condylar prosthesis in patients with stiff and ankylosed knees.
• To assess the improvement in range of motion and functional outcomes following TKR in this specific patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 26 patients (20 stiff, 6 ankylosed knees) who underwent TKR with posterior stabilized condylar prosthesis.
• Evaluation included pre- and post-operative range of motion, flexion contracture, and overall arc of motion.
• A modified inverted V-Y quadricepsplasty was utilized in 11 cases.

Main Results:

• 81% of patients achieved good to excellent results, with 11.5% fair and 7.5% poor outcomes.
• Average maximum flexion improved from 60 to 85 degrees; flexion contracture reduced from 28 to 7 degrees.
• Total arc of motion increased significantly from 32 to 78 degrees, though less motion was noted in ankylosed knees.

Conclusions:

• Posterior stabilized condylar prosthesis provides effective functional restoration for stiff and ankylosed knees.
• The surgical approach, including modified inverted V-Y quadricepsplasty, facilitates successful knee replacement in challenging cases.
• Significant improvements in range of motion and reduction in contracture highlight the efficacy of TKR for severe knee stiffness.