Risks, Causes, and Current Treatment Options
Even whenknee replacement surgeryis successful, stiffness in theknee jointcan remain.
Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of knee stiffness.
Causes of Stiffness
In some people, knee motion can be difficult to regain after surgery.
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But in some people, this can be quite difficult.
Some patients find the side effects of pain medication impossible to tolerate.
But a lack of adequate pain control can lead to difficulty increasing the motion of the newly replaced joint.
It is important to partner with your healthcare provider to develop a pain treatment plan that works for you.
These methods can also help remove any damaged pieces of cartilage or bone that are interfering with movement.
But sometimes the flexibility of the tissues is limited to a point that cannot be fully corrected.
Those who can easily move the knee before having surgery are less likely to have stiffness after surgery.
Arthrofibrosis affects 3% to 10% of patients who have undergone total knee replacement.
The goal is to make this balancing the same whether the knee is straight or bent.
This is precisely why a knee replacement is a difficult procedure.
In fact, the art of perfecting this takes many years.
Other Surgical Complications
Complications of surgery often lead to other problems.
Typically, the range of motion will progress quickly during the first three months.
It can continue to increase for up to two years following surgery.
Most knee replacements have movement ranging from 0 degrees to 110 degrees or more.
The usual treatments for stiffness include the following approaches.
You will be prescribed exercises that target different muscle groups, encourage aid in maintaining joint mobility.
These may include such asquadriceps sets, heel slides,leg raises, and various knee-straightening exercises.
Manipulation Under Anesthesia
In a manipulation, a patient is givengeneral anesthesia, usually through an IV.
A surgeon forcibly moves the knee to break up scar tissue.
This procedure is most beneficial in the six to 12 weeks after surgery.
The primary concern with a manipulation is the risk of bone breakage.
Breakage is also more likely if the manipulation is performed more than a year after the replacement.
The results of removing scar tissue have not been particularly good at improving motion.
Healthcare providers usually consider other treatments first.
The size of the new replacement can be modified to help allow for better knee motion.
Summary
Surgeons perform knee replacement surgeries to repair joints damaged by arthritis or traumatic knee injury.
Your surgeon will decide which treatment is best for your unique needs.
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