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Scar tissue after knee replacement
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Oct 10 8:31am | Replies (1550)Comment receiving replies
8 months ago, I underwent an unplanned total knee replacement as a result of a running injury. Initial PT got my movement to-15/120 forced, but for the last 5 months the flexion has gone downhill to 105. I was diagnosed with arthrofibrosis, but the amount of movement in my knee made that diagnosis questionable.
A second opinion with a professor at an Orthopedics’s ruled out infection (thank God), but revealed I have a metal allergy to nickel - but only at a .1mm concentration. He thought the allergy combined with arthrofibrosis was possibly causing my pain. Unfortunately, due to my age (54) this professor, who teaches revisions, said he would not recommend a revision for me at this time or I would not be able to walk by the time I’m in my mid sixties. He said “I’d recommend a nerve ablasion and find a way to deal with the pain for about 10’years”.
My initial surgeon consulted two other surgeons and all 4 of them agree with the professor. No revision. The initial surgeon however recommended an arthroscopic lysis of the adhesions and aggressive PT - focusing on stretching first before resigning myself to 10 years of pain.
The professor has said the arthroscopic lysis is not successful for arthrofibrosis.
Does anyone have experience with an arthroscopic lysis of adhesions to treat arthrofibrosis and if so what was the outcome?
Replies to "8 months ago, I underwent an unplanned total knee replacement as a result of a running..."
I had arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment of left knee following a knee replacement at the end of September. For me I could only bend my knee under General anaesthetic to 70 degrees, I now can bend my knee to around 96 degrees, can drive and now work. I am still hoping to bend my knee further, but am restricted due to neuropathic pain. For me the surgery has helped
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@melcpa86, you may noticed I moved your recent discussion and combined it with an existing discussion titled "Scar tissue after knee replacement." I did this so all of the members discussing scar tissue, or arthrofibrosis, would see your message and share their thoughts with you. I also had a really rough time with scar tissue after my knee replacement. I had two additional manipulations to try and break up the scar tissue and those were unsuccessful. Fortunately, after about 18 months, I was able to pop the scar tissue loose on my own. My initial movement after surgery was extremely limited, about 15-50 degree ROM. I eventually, through lots of pain, managed to get to 0-110 or so. I was not a candidate to have the scar tissue removed because they thought the risk of infection was not worth the 50/50 gain I may or may not get.
@melcpa86, here is another discussion on metal allergy you may find interesting too, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/need-tkr-and-had-positive-allergy-testing-bone-cement-and-metals/. If you don't mind me asking, is the lysis surgery something you are considering, or has it been ruled out by the professor?