Article

A Case report. Arthrofibrosis is a debilitating condition
that results in pain, decreased range of motion, and decreased function. Although
surgical management of arthrofibrosis has been well described in the literature,
rehabilitation of the arthrofibrotic knee is less well described. DESCRIPTION: A 28-year-old female presented with swelling, pain, and decreased
strength, range of motion, patellar mobility, and function following an
exploratory arthroscopy of her left knee. After failed conservative management,
the patient underwent two additional surgeries to remove scar tissue. Following
each surgery, the emphasis was on decreasing inflammation and maintaining
patellar mobility while increasing joint range of motion and strength. Therapy
progression was determined by the presence or absence of inflammatory signs. The
second scar tissue removal surgery resulted in a femoral neuropathy that further
complicated the rehabilitation process. OUTCOMES: At 3-year follow-up, the
patient continued to present with decreased range of motion and strength compared
to the uninvolved limb, but had returned to a modified running program and
reported pain no longer limited her ability to participate in activities of daily
living. DISCUSSION: This case report highlights the importance of recognizing
that arthrofibrosis may result following a minor knee surgery and with minimal
range of motion loss. Additional complications also may result during
arthrofibrosis treatment. Progressing rehabilitation based on the inflammatory
response may decrease the likelihood of additional scar tissue formation and
potentially improve the outcome for the patient.

Langue : ANGLAIS