title: Surgical Release of Severe Flexion Contracture for Oncologic Knee Arthroplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Severe postoperative knee contractures after arthroplasty or megaprosthesis reconstruction occur rarely, but are devastating complications. Management of preoperative flexion contractures is well-described, but there is a paucity of literature for surgical treatment of postoperative contractures. A retrospective chart review was performed for a single surgeon of cases between 1996 and 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients (5 of 66 for pediatrics; 4 of 95 for adults) underwent surgical release for severe stiffness after implantation of knee megaprosthesis. The total arc of motion was improved from a preoperative mean of 34° (range, 10° to 70°) to a postoperative mean 89° (63° to 125°). The amount of extension improved by a mean of 27° (range, -3° to +70°) and the amount of flexion improved by a mean of 28° (range, -10° to +75°).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical release of severe postoperative knee contracture is a challenging procedure, but in most cases, the amount of extension and flexion can be improved, yielding a greater total arc of motion.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland Medical Center - Orthopaedics 110 S. Paca St, 6 Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States.
authors.forename: Vincent Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Rush University - Orthopaedics, Chicago, United States.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Louie
authors.affiliation: University of Washington - Orthopedics and Sports Medicine 1959 NE Pacific Street , Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Punt
authors.affiliation: University of Washington - Orthopedics and Sports Medicine 1959 NE Pacific Street , Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.
authors.forename: Ernest U
authors.initials: EU
authors.lastname: Conrad
keywords: Flexion contracture; Megaprosthesis; Oncologic; Release; Revision; Sarcoma