Clinical Management of Arthrofibrosis: State of the Art and Therapeutic Outlook

JBJS Rev. 2020 Jul;8(7):e1900223. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.RVW.19.00223.

Abstract

* Arthrofibrosis is a pathologic condition that is characterized by excessive periarticular scar-tissue formation. Arthrofibrosis may occur secondary to injury, surgical trauma, hemarthrosis, or infection, or it may occur idiopathically.* The pathogenesis of arthrofibrosis is incompletely understood but involves the dysregulation of normal reparative pathways, with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-[beta]) as a principal mediator.* Current treatment options for arthrofibrosis primarily involve physiotherapy, operative manipulation, and surgical debridement, all with imperfect results.* Currently, there are no pharmacologic treatment options for arthrofibrosis. This has prompted increased investigational interest in the development of antifibrotic intra-articular therapies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / adverse effects
  • Bursitis / complications
  • Fibrosis
  • Humans
  • Joint Diseases / etiology*
  • Joint Diseases / pathology
  • Joint Diseases / surgery*
  • Joints / pathology
  • Joints / surgery
  • Knee Injuries / complications
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / surgery*