| Objective: To observe the effects of early application of static progressive stretch therapy on the function of knee joint in patients with femoral lower-middle section fracture. Methods: Forty-eight patients with femoral lower-middle section fracture who underwent internal fixation in our hospital were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 24 cases in each group. Three days after surgery, the two groups of patients were treated with physical factor therapy, CPM, motor function training and other conventional rehabilitation treatments. The observation group was given the IK knee joint stretching system for static progressive stretch therapy additionally. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and knee joint active range of motion (AROM) were assessed before, and 4 and 12 weeks after surgery. Twenty four weeks after surgery, the hospital for special surgery knee score (HSS) was used to evaluate knee function and X-ray examination to assess fracture healing. Results: At 4th and 12th week after surgery, the VAS scores in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P<0.05, 0.01), and those in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). At 4th and 12th week after surgery, the knee joint AROM in the two groups showed a significant increase as compared with that before treatmente (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the knee joint AROM between the two groups at 4th week after surgery. At 12th week after surgery, the knee joint AROM in the observation group was significantly greater than that in the control group. At 24th week after surgery, the HSS score in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). At 24th week after surgery, the X-ray examination revealed that there were osteophytes through the fracture line in the two groups. There was no longitudinal buckle pain in the affected limb, and patients could walk for 3 min under no crutches. Compared with the X-ray examination before surgery, there was no deformation, no loosening and internal cracking, and no bone nonunion occurred. Conclusion: For patients with femoral lower-middle section fracture, the early postoperative application of static progressive stretch therapy can effectively relieve pain, expand the AROM in the knee joint, improve the function of the knee joint, and do not increase the risk of bone nonunion. |
