Histological and structural study of the adhesive tissue in knee fibroarthrosis: a clinical-pathological correlation

In fibroarthrosis of the knee, it is still unknown if joint range of motion is affected by anatomopathological differences in adhesive tissue, such as tissue maturity, location, and quantity. A retrospective study of 78 patients who underwent arthoscopic arthrolysis was performed to determine a correlation between location of adhesions and preoperative range of motion (ROM). In another 17 patients, a histological and structural evaluation of adhesive tissue was performed. Based on vascularization, number and shape of cells, and collagen fiber orientation, the adhesive tissue was classified into three groups: low, medium, and high maturity. Preoperative joint ROM and the time of onset of joint stiffness was correlated with the degree of adhesion tissue maturity. A strong and statistically significant correlation between the location of adhesions and joint restriction was found. However, histological and structural evaluation showed no correlation between the degree of tissue maturity, the time of onset of joint stiffness, and the amount of joint ROM.