Management of Stiffness Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Stiffness following total knee arthroplasty is a disabling complication1-7. Although some predisposing factors have been identified, in most cases the exact etiology of the stiffness cannot be discerned. The reported prevalence of this complication has ranged widely from 1.3% to 12%1,8-10. The difference in rate may be due in part to varied definitions of stiffness11. Several factors affecting the postoperative range of motion that have been identified include the preoperative range of motion, contracture of the extensor mechanism and capsular structure, the preoperative diagnosis, personality of the patient, lack of patient compliance with the rehabilitation protocol, and the patient’s threshold for pain12-18.