Effect of early elbow crutch mobility on patients with post-anterior cruciate ligament repair.
OBJECTIVE
Rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has focused over the past decade on early mobility and exercises in the recent years, due to advancements in the surgical techniques, presumably less strain on the graft. Thus it was necessary to investigate the effect of early mobilization with the single elbow crutch with conventional methods and its outcome responses.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Totally, 40 subjects of day 1 post-ACL oblique repair with mean age of 25 ± 5.3 years participated in the study. Subjects were divided into experimental and control groups for rehabilitation with single elbow crutch and walker, respectively, along with conventional exercises for 6 weeks. After 4th week elbow crutch and walker were discarded for both groups. Interventional outcomes were assessed by static, dynamic stability, and knee functional score at 4th and 6th weeks post-operatively for both groups.


RESULTS
Both groups showed statistically significant difference in static and dynamic stability at 4th and 6th weeks. Whereas compared with experimental group, in control group Lysholm functional score was low in at 4th and 6th weeks. It was found that outcomes were improved within each group from 4th to 6th week.


CONCLUSION
Study concluded that knee stability and Lysholm functional Knee Score were significantly improved by early mobilization although functional score was more significant in single elbow crutch group than walker and also recommended early weaning off walking aids for faster outcomes during rehabilitation of post-ACL repair.