Home-Based Rehabilitation Following Subtalar Dislocation: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Background:

• Rising demand for physical medicine and rehabilitation services often leads to delays in immediate patient care.
• Delayed rehabilitation can negatively impact functional recovery outcomes.
• Subtalar dislocations are rare injuries requiring prompt and effective management.

Observation:

• A 49-year-old male sustained a rare subtalar dislocation from a 3-meter fall.
• Initial Ankle-Hindfoot Scale score was 24/100, indicating severe impairment.
• The patient underwent six weeks of immobilization followed by a home-based rehabilitation program.

Findings:

• A patient-tailored, unsupervised home-based rehabilitation program was initiated post-immobilization.
• High adherence to the home-based program was crucial for patient recovery.
• Significant improvements in range-of-motion and functional outcomes were observed.

Implications:

• Home-based rehabilitation programs can be effective alternatives when outpatient services are inaccessible.
• Early initiation of rehabilitation, even at home, is critical for optimal functional recovery.
• This case demonstrates the potential of patient-tailored home programs for rare orthopedic injuries like subtalar dislocation.