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Simple and effective Rehabilitation Programme (SERP) for Patients Undergoing Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction in Indian Scenario


Affiliations
1 Department of Orthopaedics, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry, India
2 Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry, India
     

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Introduction: Rehabilitation after surgery for an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a lengthy process. Return to sports and other activities take months. There are many variations of ACL rehabilitation. Most of the protocols are extensive and do not suite the Indian scenario where the compliance of the patient and cost of physiotherapy are the major limiting factors. Hence, we decided to develop and validate a Simple and Effective Rehabilitation Programme (SERP) for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction in our scenario.

Materials and methodology: Fifty patients with isolated ACL tear with or without partial menisectomy were selected for this systematic review from November 2010 to July 2012. All 50 patients underwent arthroscopic ipsilateral quadruple hamstring tendon reconstruction (semitendinosis and gracilis double folded) using endobutton (Smith and Nephew) for femoral fixation and bio absorbable interference screw for tibial graft fixation. They were subjected to SERP. SERP is a home based programme consisting of 5 phases spanning over 6 months. Test- retest was done using Modified Cincinnati Rating system Questionnaire on a prospective basis. The results were than analysed.

Results: Applying the Modified Cincinnati Rating System Questionnaire, results were tabulated. 84% of the patients had excellent results and 16 % had good results at the end of 3 months. At the end of 6 months, 94 % of patients had excellent results and 6% had good results. The result remained the same after 1 year of follow-up. There were no fair or poor results.

Conclusion: SERP is a home based programme which is understandable, convenient and reliable for patients who are undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction; especially in our setting with excellent functional outcome.


Keywords

SERP (Simple and Effective Rehabilitation Programme), Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Modified Cincinnati Rating System Questionnaire
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  • Simple and effective Rehabilitation Programme (SERP) for Patients Undergoing Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction in Indian Scenario

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Authors

S. M. Shishir
Department of Orthopaedics, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry, India
M. Manoj Abraham
Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry, India
Nikhil Joseph Martin
Department of Orthopaedics, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry, India
R. Kanagasabai
Department of Orthopaedics, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry, India
James J. Gnanadoss
Department of Orthopaedics, Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Pondicherry, India

Abstract


Introduction: Rehabilitation after surgery for an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a lengthy process. Return to sports and other activities take months. There are many variations of ACL rehabilitation. Most of the protocols are extensive and do not suite the Indian scenario where the compliance of the patient and cost of physiotherapy are the major limiting factors. Hence, we decided to develop and validate a Simple and Effective Rehabilitation Programme (SERP) for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction in our scenario.

Materials and methodology: Fifty patients with isolated ACL tear with or without partial menisectomy were selected for this systematic review from November 2010 to July 2012. All 50 patients underwent arthroscopic ipsilateral quadruple hamstring tendon reconstruction (semitendinosis and gracilis double folded) using endobutton (Smith and Nephew) for femoral fixation and bio absorbable interference screw for tibial graft fixation. They were subjected to SERP. SERP is a home based programme consisting of 5 phases spanning over 6 months. Test- retest was done using Modified Cincinnati Rating system Questionnaire on a prospective basis. The results were than analysed.

Results: Applying the Modified Cincinnati Rating System Questionnaire, results were tabulated. 84% of the patients had excellent results and 16 % had good results at the end of 3 months. At the end of 6 months, 94 % of patients had excellent results and 6% had good results. The result remained the same after 1 year of follow-up. There were no fair or poor results.

Conclusion: SERP is a home based programme which is understandable, convenient and reliable for patients who are undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction; especially in our setting with excellent functional outcome.


Keywords


SERP (Simple and Effective Rehabilitation Programme), Anterior Cruciate Ligament, Modified Cincinnati Rating System Questionnaire

References