Case study: a treatment approach for a resistant knee extension contracture

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Intra-articular femur fractures can lead to function-limiting knee extension contractures.
• Traditional conservative and surgical treatments often yield unsatisfactory results for these contractures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel treatment protocol for knee extension contractures resistant to conventional methods.
• To evaluate the efficacy of a combined therapy approach in restoring knee function.

Main Methods:

• A patient with a knee extension contracture post-femur fracture received a treatment program.
• The program incorporated heat, ice, prolonged passive stretching, and targeted exercises.

Main Results:

• The patient achieved significant improvement in functional knee flexion.
• The individual successfully returned to pre-injury levels of athletic activity.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive treatment protocol combining modalities and exercise can effectively manage severe knee extension contractures.
• This approach offers a viable, albeit time-consuming, alternative for cases unresponsive to standard interventions.