Physiotherapy Management Post-operative to Total Extensor Hallucis Longus Rupture: A Case Report

Due to the contracture or degeneration of the ruptured tendon, using primary suturing to treat chronic extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon ruptures is challenging. The most common cause of EHL rupture is a laceration when a sharp object drops over the dorsum of the foot. EHL injuries are rare cases. In this report, we present a case of a 23-year-old female who was operated on for EHL rupture; she visited the Physiotherapy department with complaints of pain swelling over the left dorsum of the foot and was unable to perform great toe movements for six weeks. After three weeks of patient-tailored rehabilitation protocol that included interventions like faradic stimulation, strengthening exercises, gripping exercises, proprioception training, etc., we assessed the patient's primary outcomes like pain intensity, muscle strength, and range of motion and functional outcome measures that included lower extremity functional scale score at the end. Improvement in all the outcomes was seen. Our case report concludes that physiotherapy intervention has improved the primary and secondary outcomes and has helped patients to perform functional activities efficiently, such as maintaining balance while standing, walking, and bearing equal weight. This case report portrays that early physiotherapy treatment post-operatively in EHL rupture cases proves to be very beneficial.