Non-surgical interventions for arthrofibrosis following knee joint replacement: A systematic review

I am delighted to share that our systematic review of non-surgical interventions for arthrofibrosis following knee joint replacement has just been published in Clinical Rehabilitation.

Our review, led by University of Nottingham’s Dr Michelle Hall, evaluated the effectiveness of non-surgical interventions for knee stiffness or arthrofibrosis after knee replacement surgery. Arthrofibrosis, a common complication, is characterised by excessive collagen production and scar tissue, restricting knee movement.

Sixteen studies were included, involving exercise, manual therapy, mechanical devices, and education. Improvements in knee range of motion were noted, though the evidence quality was low. The review highlights the heterogeneity of interventions and the need for standardised reporting. There is insufficient evidence to support specific non-surgical interventions for arthrofibrosis post-arthroplasty.

Non-surgical interventions may improve knee range of movement and function, and reduce the need for future surgeries following knee replacement, but the quality of the evidence is very low.

We suggest that future research should prioritise standardised reporting, larger sample sizes, and adherence to core outcome sets to inform optimal non-surgical approaches for stiffness post-knee replacement.

Check out the infographic summarising this work, and read the full paper in Clinical Rehabilitation 39 (5) 580-599. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692155251325624