Rehabilitation after Treatments
Although well-performed surgery is essential to the limb lengthening and reconstruction process, without postoperative rehabilitation, patients cannot be expected to attain maximum functional recovery. Physical therapy and occupational therapy are essential to prevent complications. Rehab is as important as is surgery in the limb lengthening and reconstruction process.
Talking about knock-knees surgery and bow legs surgery, they have very low percentage of complications, mostly if patient does not follow instructions of surgeons.
As for muscle contractures, muscle weakness, joint stiffness, nerve injury - they are well-known complications of limb lengthening. These complications can occur during lengthening, when bone ends are separated at a rate of 1 mm per day and while consolidation, when the external device remains and the bone hardens. Complications can occur also after the removal of the external device. Therefore, all patients who undergo this procedure require intense and prolonged rehabilitation, without which the final functional results would be hadly desired.
All patients undergoing limb lengthening surgery will get at least one session of therapy every day. This session is primarily focused on stretching and mobilization exercises.
Patient will also have an exercise program that involves weight bearing and physiotherapy. During the lengthening phase, all patients are allowed to bear weight according to their surgeons' prescriptions. Clinical follow-ups during lengthening is usually every week.
The patient is not allowed to bare weight, jump or go to the gym, fall down within 2-3 months after device removal. Patients are advised to spend as much time as possible walking, as the having a stroll is less risky rehabilitation procedure as others and more effective. When the period is finished, the patient can actually proceed with his everyday activities with no risks. Obviously, no range-of-motion exercises are allowed during this period. However, some simple exercises, i.e. straight leg raising and quadriceps muscle isometrics, are useful to maintain the tone of the muscles and body. We recommended that most of Ladisten patients attend a health club type facility after discharge from therapy to be able to achieve maximum recovery.
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