Notchplasty for the Arthroscopic Treatment of Limited Knee Extension

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis may lead to narrowing of the intercondylar notch due to osteophyte formation, thereby causing changes in native knee biomechanics. The normal close contact between the condyles and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during knee extension may be compromised due to narrowing of the notch and result in ACL damage, progression of knee osteoarthritis, and loss of knee extension. Outcomes after a notchplasty procedure are well reported for ACL reconstruction in young patients. However, there remains a lack of studies evaluating this procedure in the setting of knee osteoarthritis in patients with a symptomatic loss of knee extension. The purpose of this Technical Note is to present our preferred surgical technique for the treatment of loss of knee extension in the setting of knee osteoarthritis in conjunction with osteophyte formation in the intercondylar notch.