[Results of "expanded" arthrolysis of the knee joint]

This report shows the results of 20 patients, suffering on severe knee stiffness, who were treated between 1980-1989 at the Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik in Tübingen with an expanded knee arthrolysis. The knee stiffness of all patients was caused by trauma (65% polytrauma) or infection. More than 2/3 of the patients (70%) had a preoperative degree of motion which was less than 60 degrees. In average 9 months after the initial trauma the expanded knee arthrolysis was performed. The arthrolysis was in most of the cases (n = 15) combined with a supracondylar correction osteotomy. The average preoperative range of motion from (ext./flex.) 0-15-62 degrees has postoperatively been increased to (ext./flex.) 0-5-92 degrees which corresponds to a relative improvement of motion of 43%. Eleven patients showed good or fair results. The prognosis of knee stiffness is influenced by the etiology, the pre-operative loss of motion and the period of time between initial trauma and arthrolysis, and as well by the intraoperatively achieved range of motion and the post-operative application of continuous passive motion. The expanded arthrolysis of the knee is a usefull instrument in the therapy of severe posttraumatic knee stiffness.