KNEE ARTHRITIS - Cartilage plug transfer :

JG--What's capsule constricture? - - Posted by masconsumer (masconsumer), 12 May 2004

JG--When you wrote about feeling like having size 10 feet in size 5 shoes I went...bingo!  That's me.  What is capsule constricture anyway?  My leg is very stiff when I walk (limp really) and I feel like my knee is being stuffed down my leg and then there are the sudden jabs of ice pick pains.    Does that make sense?  I go back to the OS in 2 months but I don't know how much longer I can stand this.    
Posted by JG (JG), 14 May 2004

From what I understand, it is seen in individuals with advanced stage arthritis.  Bascially the capsule of the knee joint is "shrinks".   Also, I belive it is call contracture.  I still need to discuss this with my OS at my post-op appointment which is next Tuesday.  Here is a link describing the joint capsule:  http://www.arclab.org/medlineupdates/abstract_7928639.html.

Here is an article about arthrofibrosis that mentions contracture.

http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2001/03_01/eakin.htm

Good luck...Janice
Posted by hmaxwell (Heather M.), 14 May 2004

It's also called adhesive capsulitis, though if you google that term it will return a lot of shoulder hits.  

Basically, it's the result of scarring.  The capsule shrinks down and becomes less supple, and this can alter the knee mechanics.

Keywords to google:  arthrofibrosis, adhesions, scar tissue, adhesive capsulitis of the knee, lysis of adhesions (the surgery to remove the scar tissue).  If left unaddressed, it can lead to other complications like patella baja (also called patella infera), infrapatellar contracture, lateral facet syndrome, etc.

And I don't think it has to do with arthritis per se, some people just tend to form more scar tissue than others.  Also, it's a result of post-op treatment.  When you have procedures like ACI, OATS, microfracture, or even repairs of fractures around the knee, the post-op immobilization can lead to shrinking of the capsule and serious problems with arthrofibrosis.  It's all fixable if you deal with it correctly in a timely way.  Many OS's don't have much experience with this; however, arthrofibrosis is one of the most common complications after cartilage restoration surgery, so the docs who do these see it quite a bit.

Good luck.

Heather
Posted by masconsumer (masconsumer), 20 May 2004

Thank you both for the replies.  I am definitely going to look into this and talk to my OS about it.  Is there any way to diagnosis this other than doing a scope of the knee?

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