Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Jul 26, 2024; 12(21): 4499-4507
Published online Jul 26, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i21.4499
Functional assessment and influencing factors after staged functional training in patients with ankle fractures
Min-Qiong Fang
Min-Qiong Fang, Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, The Fourth Hospitai of Wuhan, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: Fang MQ designed the research and wrote the first manuscript; Fang MQ contributed to conceiving the research and analyzing data; Fang MQ conducted the analysis and provided guidance for the research.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of The Fourth Hospitai of Wuhan.
Informed consent statement: Because of the retrospective nature of the study and the anonymization of data, applied for application for exemption from informed consent form.
Conflict-of-interest statement: There is no conflict of interest to disclose.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Min-Qiong Fang, MS, Lecturer, Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, The Fourth Hospitai of Wuhan, No. 473 Hanzheng Street, Qiaokou District, Wuhan 430000, Hubei Province, China. fangminqiong871226@163.com
Received: March 4, 2024
Revised: May 7, 2024
Accepted: June 6, 2024
Published online: July 26, 2024
Processing time: 119 Days and 5.3 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

The recovery of limb function after ankle fracture surgery is a gradual process. The main purpose of implementing early functional exercise, joint mobility, muscle contraction function, passive ankle flexion and extension exercises, or physical factor therapy techniques is to achieve the rapid recovery of normal physiological limb function. However, currently the most effective rehabilitation training method is staged limb functional exercise, which promotes rapid recovery of limb function while preventing adverse consequences caused by overwork or insufficient training. Staged limb functional exercise divides the rehabilitation process into multiple stages, each of which has specific training objectives and contents. This method helps patients gradually restore limb function. Nevertheless, some patients still exhibit poor limb function after standardized exercise. Therefore, a functional evaluation should be performed to analyze the impact of staged functional training after ankle fracture surgery.

AIM

To perform a functional evaluation and determine the influencing factors of staged functional training in patients with ankle fracture.

METHODS

A retrospective study enrolled 150 patients who underwent surgical treatment for ankle fracture from May 2020 to May 2022 at our hospital. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed on general data, functional exercise compliance scale for orthopedic patients, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score, and pain factors [serum bradykinin (BK), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)].

RESULTS

Based on the AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, the cases were divided into the excellent function (n = 111) and ordinary function (n = 39) groups. Univariate analysis revealed that monthly family income, education level, diabetes mellitus, functional exercise compliance scale of orthopedic patients score, SSRS, BK, PGE2, and 5-HT significantly influenced limb function after ankle fracture (P < 0.05); Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the functional exercise compliance scale score, SSRS, BK, PGE2, and 5-HT were independent risk factors affecting functional performance after staged functional exercise (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Exercise compliance, SSRS, and pain level are the independent risk factors affecting functional performance after staged functional training following ankle surgery. Clinical nursing care after ankle surgery should include analgesic and health education measures to ensure optimal recovery of limb function.

Keywords: Ankle fracture; Staged functional training; Ankle function; Serum pain factor

Core Tip: This article examined the functional recovery assessment and influencing factors after implementing staged training exercise for ankle fractures. Social support, exercise compliance, and pain were identified as independent risk factors affecting ankle function recovery. The study findings can provide clear guidance on postoperative care for ankle surgery.