Treatment of fixed knee flexion deformity by anterior distal femoral stapling

Purpose The treatment of fixed knee flexion deformity through anterior distal femoral stapling has been investigated in only two studies so far, with promising results. The aim of the present study was to determine whether this technique might improve fixed knee flexion deformity in a series of growing children and adolescents with different conditions. Follow-up examinations were continued after staple removal in terms of a possible impairment of this deformity. Methods We reviewed the medical records of all patients with fixed knee flexion deformity who had been treated by anterior distal femoral stapling at our institution. Twenty patients (37 knees) with a mean age of 12.7 years met the inclusion criteria (>12 months of follow-up; no additional procedures to correct fixed knee flexion deformity such as hamstring lengthening or posterior capsulotomy) and were evaluated in this study. Results The mean fixed knee flexion deformity significantly improved from 21.4° (SD = 11.6) preoperatively to 7.0° (SD = 9.8) after a mean follow-up of 35.3 months. Young patients (