Arthroscopic management of arthrofibrosis of the knee, including infrapatellar contraction syndrome.

Abstract

Infrapatellar contracture syndrome (IPCS) has been defined as a subcategory of arthrofibrosis of the knee following surgery. We present a systematic, wholly arthroscopic surgical approach to this difficult problem. The technique includes assessment of patellar mobility, resection of intraarticular adhesions, release of possible extracapsular bands, resection of fibrotic fat pad, and lateral and medial releases if indicated. We obtained satisfactory results with increased total range of motion of 45 degrees in 12 patients with IPCS. This is comparable to the results in routine arthrofibrosis of the knee, where the mean increase in total range of motion was 50 degrees for the seven patients in this series.