What are the rehabilitation recommendations after postoperative tibial stop avulsion fracture of the posterior cruciate ligament

    There are two major types of surgical approaches to posterior cruciate ligament tibial stop avulsion fractures: one is arthroscopic treatment, and the second is lateral posterior knee access incision and fixation. We will discuss the rehabilitation experience of internal fixation with absorbable nails via the posterior knee approach.    1. Fixation: The choice of adjustable brace fixation helps early knee flexion and extension exercises, and can be fixed in extension position after surgery to prevent contracture of the posterior aspect of the knee. There are also a number of views advocating fixation in the knee flexion 30° position.    2. Ankle pump exercises. After awakening from anesthesia on the postoperative day, you can perform plantarflexion and dorsiflexion exercises of the ankle and metatarsophalangeal joints. This exercise is simple and easy to perform, and can be performed throughout the bedside exercise period.    Day 1 after surgery 1. Autonomic contraction exercise of quadriceps: If the patient cannot contract well due to pain, you can instruct the exercise on the healthy side to help the affected side learn to contract. Contraction for 5-10 seconds — relaxation for 5 seconds — contraction for 5-10 seconds. Depending on the patient’s physical condition, it is feasible to perform 200-300 reps per day in 4-5 groups. It has been reported that if the quadriceps stretching and contraction exercise is performed on the affected side at the same time, the contraction force of the quadriceps on the affected side can be increased by 30%.    2, the first postoperative day feasible lower limb venous pump (pneumatic circulation) treatment.    Day 3 postoperative straight leg raising exercise: ankle joint dorsal extension, lower limb raised off the bed, heel about 10cm above the bed, insist on 5-10 seconds and then put down, 150-200 times a day, a group of 50 times, a day in 3-4 groups to complete.    The stitches were removed 2 weeks after the operation and the knee mobility exercises were started 3 weeks after the operation. 3 weeks after the operation, the brace was adjusted to 30 degrees of flexion and lower limb abduction exercises or straight leg raising exercises in all directions were performed. The mobility was gradually increased to 60 degrees at 4 weeks, 90 degrees at 6 weeks, 120 degrees at 8 weeks, and basically the same as the healthy side at 12 weeks.    Due to the individual differences and tolerance of the patients, the schedule alone cannot be followed well, so regular outpatient review should be done to guide or help the patients to perform flexion and extension exercises.    At 8 weeks postoperatively, muscle strength exercises should be strengthened, including straight leg raising exercises, resistance knee extension exercises and resistance knee flexion exercises. Personal experience before the fracture healing is not anxious early weight-bearing, when the foot on the ground is difficult to control the muscle strength of the rotational activities, is not conducive to fracture healing, can be assisted by double crutches under the operating limb without weight-bearing walking. According to the review, partial weight-bearing should be started at 8 weeks after surgery, not more than 1/3 of body weight, and full weight-bearing should be started at 12 weeks after surgery.    The cast should be removed at least by 6 weeks postoperatively. Adjustable braces can be used up to 8 weeks postoperatively and can be worn for excessive activity from 8 weeks to 12 weeks, and after 12 weeks brace protection is basically unnecessary.    Regarding over-activity, the knee joint may become painful and even swollen when over-activity or excessive strength exercises are performed.    Post-operative rehabilitation exercises directly determine the outcome of the surgery and are no less important than the surgical treatment itself, therefore, both patients and doctors should pay special attention to them, especially doctors. Since they are busy with inpatients and often cannot effectively guide the exercises of patients who have been discharged from the hospital, a review is necessary. The specific rehabilitation process should vary depending on the condition, intraoperative situation, surgical style and internal fixation, and should also be developed in relation to the patient himself.