Patellar fracture rehabilitation after tension band fixation: a case report

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to present a patellar fracture case treated by tension band wiring fixation and submitted to a rehabilitation program during 4 months. The subject was a 39 years old male. The rehabilitation program used was done in Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto and started in the first day after surgery. Assessments were done in 3 occasions: after 10 days, 2 months and 4 months of physical therapy's beginning. In these assessments were evaluated walking conditions, tenderness, patellar mobility, pain, knee range of movement (ROM), thigh
girth and muscular force. In the first evaluation the subject was walking with two crutches (20 Kg of partial weight bearing on the affected leg); presented patellar hipomobility; reported moderate knee pain at rest and walking; showed moderate tenderness; the active ROM of the affected knee was: 0° extension/ 18° flexion; thigh girth differences between affected leg and non affected leg at 10, 15 and 20 cm from femoral lateral epicondyle were respectively: -3 cm, -2 cm and -2 cm; after 2 month of rehabilitation the muscular strength of knee extensors was degree 4. After 4 months of rehabilitation the patient was walking normally without support, had no pain and no tenderness, the patellar mobility was normal, the knee ROM was complete, the thigh girth of affected leg was equal to non affected leg, there was no loss of strength and the patient returned to his functional and recreational activities.