Dynamic fixation using rigid tape in rehabilitation after surgery of terrible triad injury of the elbow: A randomized trial

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify the efficacy of dynamic fixation using rigid tape (RT) in rehabilitation after surgery of terrible triad injury of the elbow (TTIE). METHODS: Sixty patients who underwent surgery of TTIE were equally randomly divided into RT group and hinged external fixation brace (HEFB) group. Dynamic fixations were applied for 8 weeks. General rehabilitation programs were performed for 3 months, 5 times a week. Follow-up (FU) was at six months. Main outcomes included pain (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS), muscle strength, range of motion (ROM), Elbow Function (Mayo Elbow Performance Index, MEPI), Quality of Life (QOL) (Short Form 36 Questionnaire, SF-36). RESULTS: There were significant time x group interactions for pain, ROM, MEPI, SF-36 (all p= 0.000), which demonstrated positive efficacy of both the two interventions. Difference at each time-point (except for baseline) of pain and ROM between the two groups was statistically significant (all p< 0.05). Some differences between the two groups were not statistically significant which at 14d on MEPI (p= 0.108) and at 21d (p= 0.259) and FU (p= 0.402) on QOL. Moreover, the increased muscle strength at each time-point had no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both RT and HEFB could significantly improve the postoperative functional outcomes of the TTIE. However, early rehabilitation intervention could increase pain, which affected the corresponding function (MEPI) and QOL. Note that this kind of impact was short-term and reversible. The muscle strength and ROM were not affected by the increased severe pain, maintaining a trend of improvement. In addition, the subjects in the RT group improved faster and more efficiently and had better results with pain, ROM, MEPI, and QOL compared to the subjects in the HEFB group.