Early rehabilitation after elective total knee arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: Outcomes after TKA surgery are supposed to be related to the intensity and type of post-operative rehabilitation. Aim of this paper is to describe our early rehabilitation protocol following TKA with mini-invasive surgery in the immediate post-operative period and analyze functional recovery and changes in pain scores in these patients. METHODS: in this observational study, data were collected on 215 total knee arthroplasty patients referred to Orthopedics and Traumatology inpatient ward from July 2012 to January 2014, treated with the same early start rehabilitation protocol. We recorded times to reach functional goals (sitting, standing and assisted ambulation) and pain after the treatment. RESULTS: length of hospital stay in TKA was 4.6±1.8 days, with a rehabilitation treatment lenght of 3.3±1.3 days. The mean time needed to achieve the sitting position was 2.3±0.7 days, to reach the standing position was 2.6±1.0 days to reach the walking functional goal was 2.9±1.0 days.  Pain NRS scores remained below 4 in the first and second post-operative day and below 3 from the third post-operative day. CONCLUSION: Our study confirms that rehabilitation started as soon as 24 hours after surgery with mini-invasive approach, enables early verticalization of patients and early recovery of walking with a good control of pain.

Monitoring iliopsoas muscle contraction in idiopathic lumbar scoliosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Curve evolution in idiopathic scoliosis frequently occurs in lumbar and thoracic-lumbar spine. The spinal and iliopsoas muscles play a major role in maintaining the static and dynamic stability of the spine. OBJECTIVE: To monitor by video recording, the degree to which asymmetric isometric contractions of the iliopsoas muscle improve the lumbar curve. DESIGN: 10 subjects (9 female, 1 male), mean age of 14.1 years (11-18), who were undergoing rehabilitation for idiopathic scoliosis. 8 subjects wore a brace, 6 had a single lumbar curve, 4 had a thoracic curve; 9 curves were convex to the left and 1 convex to the right. The mean Cobb angle was 20.1 degrees ±8.2523) with a mean degree of rotation of 1.2 (±0.4216). METHOD: The scoliotic curves were monitored on video whilst the patients performed muscle contraction exercises. Adhesive markers were applied to the skin to be used as reference points of the curve on video. Subjects performed the exercises in a sitting position, facing away from the video camera, with their knees bent at an angle of 90 degrees. The complete exercise procedure was as follows: initial lengthening of the spine and postural control, concentric activation of the iliopsoas, isometric activation for about 3 seconds, then final release. Differences in curvature angle detected on the video recording were analysed and processed using the computer software Dartfish Pro Suite 5.0_Dartfish LTD_Switzerland. RESULTS: The mean angle of correction through exercise was 6.9 degrees (±3.6) during concentric activation and 4.9 degrees (±3.5) during isometric activation of the iliopsoas. CONCLUSIONS: Data show the corrective effect that iliopsoas muscle contraction produces on the scoliotic curve.