What is arthrofibrosis in the knee?
Arthrofibrosis is a term that describes the build-up of excess scar tissue in a joint. The knee is a highly mobile joint that is also prone to injury due to the amount of stress placed on it. Arthrofibrosis can occur following an injury, surgery, or as a symptom of osteoarthritis in the knee. This can result in pain, swelling, weakness, and stiffness of the knee during movement. The severity of arthrofibrosis of the knee can range from small, minimal scar tissue build-up to significant amounts that severely limit the mobility of the knee. Scar tissue may be found to affect the entire knee joint, or only part of the knee joint, depending on the nature of previous surgeries or injuries.
How is arthrofibrosis of the knee treated?
Initially, non-surgical treatments such as rest, ice, anti-inflammatory pain medications, and possibly knee joint injections are recommended. However, if these conservative treatments fail to alleviate the pain and stiffness, arthrofibrosis surgery may be recommended to remove the problematic tissue. It is important that a highly skilled surgeon perform arthrofibrosis surgery because when performed correctly, this treatment has high success rates with minimal to no return of scar tissue. Dr. Joseph Lamplot, orthopedic knee specialist, treats patients in Arlington Heights, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Barrington, and the surrounding Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL, who have experienced arthrofibrosis of the Knee.
Who needs to have arthrofibrosis surgery?
Patients who are experiencing pain, stiffness, or other symptoms of arthrofibrosis in the knee following knee surgery or traumatic injuries may benefit from arthrofibrosis surgery. Dr. Lamplot will evaluate the patient’s medical history and perform a physical examination to determine the best course of action for the patient. He may also request additional diagnostic imaging such as an MRI scan to determine the extent of the scar tissue in the knee and recommend treatment.
How is Arthrofibrosis surgery done?
Arthrofibrosis surgery is typically performed arthroscopically, where Dr. Lamplot will make small incisions into the knee and use small, specialized tools to perform the surgery. An arthroscopic technique is preferred for arthrofibrosis surgery because it is minimally invasive and lessens the chance of surgical complications such as infections, recurrent arthrofibrosis or stiffness, and decreases the time it takes for a patient to recover. Dr. Lamplot will locate and remove any excess scar tissue that has built up in the knee joint using the small arthroscopic surgical tools.
What is the recovery like after arthrofibrosis surgery?
Immediately following an arthrofibrosis surgery, patients will begin specialized physical therapy to maintain the range of motion that is recovered during surgery. Physical therapy is the single most important aspect of recovery following arthrofibrosis surgery. An ice machine, oral steroid taper and continuous passive range of motion (CPM) machine will be used to maintain knee range of motion and decrease the risk of recurrent stiffness. Dr. Lamplot will give each patient an estimated timeline to full recovery based on their previous injuries, surgeries, and the complexity of the arthrofibrosis surgery he performed. It is imperative that patients comply with Dr. Lamplot’s recommendations after surgery and the physical therapy regimen to ensure the success of the surgery and to prevent the recurrence of scar tissue build-up and associated stiffness.
Arthrofibrosis Surgeon
If you have a stiff knee after surgery or a traumatic knee injury, you may have a condition known as arthrofibrosis, or stiff knee syndrome. Arthrofibrosis surgery is a very specialized and complex knee surgery that should only be done by an expert. Doctor Joseph D. Lamplot, has extensive experience and success in provides diagnosis as well as surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for patients in Arlington Heights, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Barrington, and the surrounding Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL who have arthrofibrosis or stiff knee syndrome. Contact Dr. Lamplot’s team today!
