ARTHROSCOPIC TREATMENT OF INTRAARTICULAR FIBROUS BANDS AFTER TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

Eighteen consecutive patients (average age, 66.4 years at arthroscopy) who had a previous total knee arthroplasty underwent arthroscopic res ection of a transverse suprapatellar fibrous band, which was causing p atellar snapping and jumping as it impinged on the intercondylar notch portion of the femoral component during active extension (tethered pa tellar syndrome). Fourteen patients were available for followup at an average of 56 months (range, 37-91 months). All patients had complete relief of the patellar symptoms. One patient had a recurrence of sympt oms 10 months after arthroscopy but remained symptom free 30 months af ter repeat resection. All are currently symptom free and are classifie d as having excellent results. The average range of motion is 1 degree s to 115 degrees. There were no complications attributable to the arth roscopy, The tethered patellar syndrome has been noted by various auth ors, and has been most commonly treated by arthrotomy. At arthroscopy, a transverse suprapatellar fibrous band was seen to catch on the inte rcondylar notch of the femoral component, snapping free as the knee ex tended past approximately 30 degrees. In this population, excellent lo ng-term results were achieved with arthroscopic removal of the transve rse suprapatellar band.