Knee Surgery and Arthrogryposis

The Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics published research on ambulation gains following surgical correction for knee flexion contractures in children with arthrogyposis. Prior to surgery at 2 through 16 years of age, 11 children were non ambulatory, 2 were household ambulators and 1 was a community ambulator with orthosis. The children underwent an average of 1.8 surgeries of mostly distal femoral extension osteotomy and/or Ilizarov external fixator. Follow ups were performed anywhere from 12 months to 112 months which indicated that: 8 children were now ambulatory with adapted equipemtn (i.e. orthoses, walkers or braces), 2 children were household ambulators, one child used a wheelchair and was independent for transfers and 2 children were non ambulatory. Knee flexion contractures varied from an average of 63.7 (+/-26.8 degrees) preoperatively, 13.2±16.7 degrees postoperatively and 34.0±24.1 degrees at latest follow up. The return of the knee flexion contractures postoperatively did not limit the ambulation gains that were achieved.

Reference: Yang, Stephen Su et al. Ambulation Gains After Knee Surgery in Children With Arthrogryposis. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics: December 2010 – Volume 30 – Issue 8 – p 863–869 doi: 10.1097/BPO.0b013e3181f5a0c8