Radiation-Induced Fibrosis

Someone I know has undergone chemo, radiation, and surgery to treat a sarcoma on the distal end of their hamstring. The end result is the person cannot extend their knee due to radiation-induced fibrosis in the treated area. One solution mentioned was to forcefully keep the knee extended by placing a brace, surgically attached to the femur and tibia. The prognosis does not appear to be good in terms of restoring function.

Have you ever treated anyone like this? Is there anything that could be worth exploring? Thanks.

I have never heard of an extension mechanism surgically intact. Radiation induced fibrosis sucks, there is no doubt about it. Could you tell me how long this has been the case and approximately how much range from knee extension they are missing?

Thank you for the response, Derek. This has been going on for a few months. After the treatments were finished, knee extension was possible. After an infection at the surgical site and some time off the leg, the fibrosis appears to have developed aggressively. The knee cannot be extended much past 90 degrees. A knee scooter is used to get around.