[Arthrolysis as a surgical treatment concept of post-traumatic stiffness of the knee joint].

In the period from 1977 to 1989 105 arthrolyses were performed in 102 patients. There were mainly posttraumatic fibroarthroses: 51 consecutive to fractures, 39 after ligamentous injuries, 13 post-infectious of which 11 were also post-traumatic and only 2 patients with rheumatological diseases. Remarkable is the increased number of fibroarthrosis after polytrauma (n = 26). The preoperative range of motion was under 30 degrees in 26 patients and 48 patients had a severely limited range of motions between 30 and 60 degrees. The follow-up examination performed in an average of 2 years after the operative mobilization showed that the initial mobility was more than doubled. These results are related to atiology, operative procedure and degree of severity of the preoperative stiffness. Fair to excellent results were obtained in almost 3/4 of the patients. We explain these results by an adapted extraarticular or combined procedure which were used in 63 cases. The open release is backed by an intensive rehabilitation program in which painlessness through PDA and an immediate postoperative continuous passive motion are of most importance.