Total knee arthroplasty in patients with stiff knees.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of total knee arthroplasty and analyze the prognostic factors in patients with stiff knees. Thirty-two patients (39 knees) with severe knee arthritis and an arc of motion of 50° or less were treated by total knee arthroplasty. The mean follow-up period was 58 months (range, 24-123 months). The mean arc of motion improved from 35° before the operation to 94° at the time of the latest follow-up (P<.05). Improvement in knee motion after postoperative 3 months was insignificant. The most important factor related to the final arc of knee motion was preoperative arc of knee motion. The V-Y quadricepsplasty was associated with an inferior clinical outcome. Total knee arthroplasty in patients with stiff knees has substantially improved in the clinical outcome and the arc of motion.