Objective:To compare the mid- to long-term clinical outcomes of arthrolysis versus revision arthroplasty for arthrofibrosis-related stiffness following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 20 patients (26 knees) with post-TKA arthrofibrosis who had been treated at Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 2004 and January 2020. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on their treatment: an arthrolysis group of 8 cases (10 knees) [1 male (2 knees)and 7 females (8 knees); median age: 44.0 (21.0, 62.0) years] and a revision arthroplasty group of 13 cases (16 knees) [4 males (6 knees)and 9 females (10 knees); median age: 41.5 (30.0, 56.0) years]. The knee range of motion (ROM) and the American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score as well as their improvements were compared between preoperation and the last follow-up, as well as between the 2 groups; the satisfaction of the patients at the last follow-up was compared between the 2 groups.Results:No significant differences in the baseline characteristics were observed between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). The preoperative knee ROM [55.0° (48.8°, 61.3°)] and HSS knee score [54.0 (47.0, 61.8) points] in the arthrolysis group were significantly higher than those in the revision group [27.5° (6.3°, 50.0°), 33.0 (27.3, 47.8) points] ( P<0.05). In the arthrolysis and revision arthroplasty groups, the knee ROMs [90.0° (65.0°, 100.0°), 90.0° (63.5°, 98.8°)] and HSS knee scores [(69.8±19.9) points, (77.6±11.3) points] at the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). In the revision arthroplasty group, the improvement in knee ROM (48.9°±21.7°) was insignificantly larger than that in the arthrolysis group (34.5°±13.2°) ( P>0.05), but the improvement in HSS knee score [39.5 (25.3, 57.0) points] was significantly larger than that in the arthrolysis group [16.0 (10.5, 25.3) points] ( P<0.05). Respectively, 14 and 3 knees in the revision arthroplasty group and the arthrolysis group resulted in patient satisfaction, showing a significant difference between the 2 groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Both arthrolysis and revision arthroplasty can significantly improve knee ROM and HSS knee score in post-TKA arthrofibrosis. However, since revision arthroplasty demonstrates superior improvements in HSS knee score and patient satisfaction, it is preferable for patients with lower preoperative knee ROM.

Objective:To compare the mid- to long-term clinical outcomes of arthrolysis versus revision arthroplasty for arthrofibrosis-related stiffness following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 20 patients (26 knees) with post-TKA arthrofibrosis who had been treated at Department of Orthopedics, The Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 2004 and January 2020. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on their treatment: an arthrolysis group of 8 cases (10 knees) [1 male (2 knees)and 7 females (8 knees); median age: 44.0 (21.0, 62.0) years] and a revision arthroplasty group of 13 cases (16 knees) [4 males (6 knees)and 9 females (10 knees); median age: 41.5 (30.0, 56.0) years]. The knee range of motion (ROM) and the American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score as well as their improvements were compared between preoperation and the last follow-up, as well as between the 2 groups; the satisfaction of the patients at the last follow-up was compared between the 2 groups.Results:No significant differences in the baseline characteristics were observed between the 2 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). The preoperative knee ROM [55.0° (48.8°, 61.3°)] and HSS knee score [54.0 (47.0, 61.8) points] in the arthrolysis group were significantly higher than those in the revision group [27.5° (6.3°, 50.0°), 33.0 (27.3, 47.8) points] ( P<0.05). In the arthrolysis and revision arthroplasty groups, the knee ROMs [90.0° (65.0°, 100.0°), 90.0° (63.5°, 98.8°)] and HSS knee scores [(69.8±19.9) points, (77.6±11.3) points] at the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). In the revision arthroplasty group, the improvement in knee ROM (48.9°±21.7°) was insignificantly larger than that in the arthrolysis group (34.5°±13.2°) ( P>0.05), but the improvement in HSS knee score [39.5 (25.3, 57.0) points] was significantly larger than that in the arthrolysis group [16.0 (10.5, 25.3) points] ( P<0.05). Respectively, 14 and 3 knees in the revision arthroplasty group and the arthrolysis group resulted in patient satisfaction, showing a significant difference between the 2 groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Both arthrolysis and revision arthroplasty can significantly improve knee ROM and HSS knee score in post-TKA arthrofibrosis. However, since revision arthroplasty demonstrates superior improvements in HSS knee score and patient satisfaction, it is preferable for patients with lower preoperative knee ROM.