Comparison of minimally invasive arthrolysis vs. conventional arthrolysis for post-traumatic knee stiffness

Minimally invasive surgery in knee arthroplasty can reduce postoperative pain and the rehabilitation period. The goal of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect of minimally invasive arthrolysis in post-traumatic knee stiffness. From March 2002 to March 2016, a prospective investigation was performed on seventy post-traumatic knee stiffness patients treated with minimally invasive knee arthrolysis or conventional knee arthrolysis. Curative effect was evaluated according to Judet's criteria. Operative time, incision length, blood loss, the angle of intraoperative release and the final postoperative joint mobility in two groups were compared using the student's t-test. The mean follow up time was 15.37 ± 4.93 months (ranged from 6 months to 2 years).The excellent and good rate was significantly higher in minimally invasive group (95.0%) than conventional arthrolysis group (73.33%) (P < 0.05). Minimally invasive arthrolysis group had shorter operative time (29.38 ± 4.84 vs. 86.00 ± 9.77 min), smaller incision length (6.59 ± 0.86 vs. 20.47 ± 2.91 cm), less intraoperative blood loss (93.25 ± 15.26 vs. 473.33 ± 79.58 ml) and better postoperative final joint activity (104.75 ± 17.87° vs. 90.67 ± 19.64°) compared to conventional arthrolysis group (P < 0.001). The findings suggest that minimally invasive knee arthrolysis is a much better option for the treatment of post-traumatic knee stiffness due to its advantages such as shorter operative time, little trauma, less blood loss and better postoperative final joint activity. Further studies with a long term of follow-up are wanted.