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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 12/2012

01-12-2012 | Knee

Treatment of fixed knee flexion deformity by anterior distal femoral stapling

Authors: Alexander S. Spiro, Peggy Stenger, Michael Hoffmann, Eik Vettorazzi, Kornelia Babin, Sandra Lipovac, Jan Philipp Kolb, Alexander Novo de Oliveira, Johannes M. Rueger, Ralf Stuecker

Published in: Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy | Issue 12/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

The treatment of fixed knee flexion deformity through anterior distal femoral stapling has been investigated in only two studies so far, with promising results. The aim of the present study was to determine whether this technique might improve fixed knee flexion deformity in a series of growing children and adolescents with different conditions. Follow-up examinations were continued after staple removal in terms of a possible impairment of this deformity.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records of all patients with fixed knee flexion deformity who had been treated by anterior distal femoral stapling at our institution. Twenty patients (37 knees) with a mean age of 12.7 years met the inclusion criteria (>12 months of follow-up; no additional procedures to correct fixed knee flexion deformity such as hamstring lengthening or posterior capsulotomy) and were evaluated in this study.

Results

The mean fixed knee flexion deformity significantly improved from 21.4° (SD = 11.6) preoperatively to 7.0° (SD = 9.8) after a mean follow-up of 35.3 months. Young patients (<12 years) revealed superior improvement of this deformity, and especially children with distinct fixed knee flexion deformity of 30° or greater had benefit from early treatment. Impairment of flexion deformity was only seen in one patient (2 knees) after staple removal.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that anterior distal femoral stapling is an effective method for the treatment of fixed knee flexion deformity in growing children and adolescents. Rare complications, immediate mobilization, and a low recurrence rate after staple removal provide obvious advantages of this minimally invasive procedure.

Level of evidence

Retrospective therapeutic study, Level IV.
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Metadata
Title
Treatment of fixed knee flexion deformity by anterior distal femoral stapling
Authors
Alexander S. Spiro
Peggy Stenger
Michael Hoffmann
Eik Vettorazzi
Kornelia Babin
Sandra Lipovac
Jan Philipp Kolb
Alexander Novo de Oliveira
Johannes M. Rueger
Ralf Stuecker
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy / Issue 12/2012
Print ISSN: 0942-2056
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7347
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-1915-8

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