Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Oral Corticosteroids Mitigated the Risk of Arthrofibrosis After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background: The role of medications to prevent arthrofibrosis following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains unclear. We investigated the effect of common oral medications with reported antifibrotic properties on preventing arthrofibrosis and manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) following primary TKA. Methods: Using our total joint registry, 9,771 patients (12,735 knees) who underwent TKA with cemented, posterior-stabilized, and metal-backed tibial components from 2000 to 2016 were identified. Arthrofibrosis, defined as range of motion (ROM) ≤90° for ≥12 weeks postoperatively or as ROM ≤90° requiring MUA, was diagnosed in 454 knees (4%) and matched 1:2 to controls. Mean age was 62 years (range, 19 to 87) and 57% were women. The majority of operative diagnoses were osteoarthritis. Perioperative use of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), oral corticosteroids, antihistamines, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were manually confirmed. Medication effect in preventing arthrofibrosis and MUA was assessed using adjusted multivariable analyses. Mean follow-up was 8 years (range, 2 to 20). Results: Reduced risk of arthrofibrosis was associated with perioperative NSAID use (odds ratio (OR) 0.67, P = .045). A similar trend was observed with perioperative corticosteroids (OR 0.52, P = .098). Corticosteroids were associated with reduced risk of MUA (OR 0.26, P = .036), and NSAIDs trended towards reducing MUA (OR 0.69, P = .11). Conclusion: This investigation determined that perioperative NSAID use was associated with reduced risk of arthrofibrosis and trended towards reduced risk of subsequent MUA. Similarly, oral corticosteroids were associated with reduced risk of MUA and trended towards reduced risk of arthrofibrosis.