Arthrofibrosis

Last revised by Henry Knipe on 28 Sep 2021

Arthrofibrosis is a complication of injury or trauma to a joint. It can also be iatrogenic e.g. post knee surgeries. It consists of excessive scar tissue formation within the joint capsule, resulting in pain, stiffness, and swelling, which are greater than expected in the given clinical scenario.

It has been most extensively studied in the knee, where it is one of the leading causes of failure of total knee arthroplasty.

Arthrofibrosis can be diffuse or localised. The cyclops lesion is a specific manifestation of localised arthrofibrosis and consists of a focal rounded mass of fibrous/scar tissue that occurs anterior to a reconstructed ACL ligament. Another type of localised arthrofibrosis is an anterior interval lesion, which affects the posterior aspect of Hoffa's fat pad

Radiographic features

MRI

Scar tissue appears as a low signal intensity lesion in T1 and T2 weighted images and will appear mass-like. 

See also

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