We compared the results of total knee arthroplasties in patients with stiff or ankylosed knees. We retrospectively reviewed 90 total knee arthroplasties in 52 patients with minimum 2 years followup who had less than a 50 degrees arc of flexion preoperatively. Preoperative and intraoperative data were retrieved from a computerized database. Patients were followed for an average of 6.5 years at an outpatient department. Knee Society knee scores improved from 34.6 points preoperatively to 89.5 points postoperatively in the stiff knees and from 47 points preoperatively to 75 points postoperatively in the ankylosed knees. The arc of flexion improved from 35 degrees -69 degrees preoperatively to 1 degrees -94 degrees postoperatively in the stiff knees and from 0 degrees to 3 degrees -77 degrees in the ankylosed knees. There were major complications in four of the 26 ankylosed knees and in two of the 64 stiff knees. The data suggest results of total knee arthroplasty are better in patients with stiff knees than in patients with ankylosed knees.

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Therapeutic Level II.

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Objective:To compare the results of endoscopic carpal tunnel release (CTR) with open CTR in patients with idiopathic Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).Materials and Methods:Seventy-one patients with CTS were enrolled in a prospective randomized study from May 2003 to December 2005. All patients had clinical signs or symptoms and electro-diagnostic findings consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome and had not responded to nonoperative management. Sixty-one cases were available for follow-up. Endoscopic CTR was performed in 30 CTS patients and open CTR was performed in 31 wrists (30 patients). Various parameters were evaluated, including each patient's symptom amelioration, complications, operation time, time needed to resume normal lifestyle and the frequency of revision surgery. All the patients were followed up for six months.Results:During the initial months after surgery, the patients treated with the endoscopic method were better symptomatically and functionally. Local wound problems in terms of scarring or scar tenderness were significantly more pronounced in patients undergoing open CTR compared to patients undergoing endoscopic CTR. Average delay to return to normal activity was appreciably less in group undergoing endoscopic CTR. No significant difference was observed between the endoscopic CTR group and open CTR group in regard to symptom amelioration, electromyographic testing and complications at the end of six months.Conclusion:Short-term results were better with the endoscopic method as there was no scar tenderness. Results at six months were comparable in both groups.