OBJECTIVE: Extension stiffness of knee joint is always treated by the quadricepsplasty, but the main deficiency of this method is that patient feels weakness of lower limb and easily kneels down. The aim of this article is to explore the method to resolve the complications after quadricepsplasty. METHODS: Since 1978 to 1997, on the basis of traditional procedures of quadricepsplasty, sartorius muscle was used to reinforce the extension of knee joint. The lower 2/3 of sartorius muscle was fully dissociated only with its insertion intact. A tendon-periosteal-bone flap, about 2 cm in width, was managed on the anterior surface of patella, with its pedicle on the medial edge of patella. The tendon-periosteal-bone flap was used to fix the dissociated sartorious into patella to reinforce the extension of knee joint. The very lower part of sartorius was mainly aponeurosis, with the help of an aponeurosis bundle of iliotibial tract, it was fixed into the insertion of patellar ligament, through a bony tunnel chiseled adjacent to the insertion of patellar ligament. By now the movement of knee joint extension was strengthened by the transferred sartorius muscle. Postoperatively, every patient was required to extend and flex knee joint actively and/or passively. Altogether 12 patients were treated, 9 of them were followed up with an average of 14 months. RESULTS: The average movement was increased from 15 degrees to 102 degrees, and the average myodynamia was improved from grade II to grade IV. CONCLUSION: Traditional quadricepsplasty co-operated with transfer of sartorius muscle can strengthen the myodynamia of knee joint extension. It is simple method and can really achieve good function.
One hundred and fifty cases were followed up after quadricepsplasty. Hamstring M. were used in 112 cases. M. rectus femoris or obliquis abdominis was used in 38 cases. The validity and force analysis of such two kinds of operation were analyzed and compared. It was confirmed that the power of the transferred muscle depended on the angle between the force line and the neutral axis of the joint, provided the arm of the force and the area of transection of the muscle were constant. The bigger the angle was, the longer the arm of the force was, and the smaller was the labour. If this angle was negative or the knee joint was in a position of flexion deformity, the smaller the negative angle was, the smaller the componend force of the joint was, and the larger was the component force of extension.