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All-arthroscopic release in treating knee stiffness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Yichao Liu1, Yixian Sun1, Lei Wang1
1Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Background:
Knee stiffness is a recognized complication after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and can compromise postoperative range of motion (ROM) and functional recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of all-arthroscopic release in patients with knee stiffness after ACLR.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 40 consecutive patients admitted with knee stiffness after ACLR to the Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, from 2021 to 2024. Outcome measures including ROM of the knee, Lysholm knee scoring scale, and Tegner activity level scale were conducted preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. The incidence of both specific and general surgical complications was recorded. All analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0, and a two-sided P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
All 40 patients met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis (N=40). There were 19 females and 21 males. The mean age was 32±6 years, and the follow-up was 12 months. All patients completed follow-up assessments. There was a significant improvement in knee flexion postoperatively, with the preoperative average flexion of 78.50°±20.64° and 131.75°±8.96° at 12 months (P<0.001). There was also a significant improvement in knee extension, with the preoperative average extension deficit of 8.38°±6.03° and 0.68°±1.07° at 12 months (P<0.001). The Lysholm score increased from 63.75±6.81 preoperatively to 85.92±6.10 at 12 months postoperatively (P<0.001). The Tegner score also showed significant enhancement from 1.15±0.53 preoperatively to 4.82±0.87 at 12 months (P<0.001). No major complications were observed during the procedure.
Conclusions:
All-arthroscopic release demonstrated excellent clinical outcomes in the treatment of knee stiffness after ACLR, with relatively minimally invasive, low surgical risks, and can effectively improve knee function and overall quality of life.