Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine (Mar 2019)

A protocol for permissive weight-bearing during allied health therapy in surgically treated fractures of the pelvis and lower extremities

  • Guido Meys,
  • Pishtiwan H. S. Kalmet,
  • Sebastian Sanduleanu,
  • Yvette Y. van Horn,
  • Geert Jan Maas,
  • Martijn Poeze,
  • Peter R.G. Brink,
  • Henk A.M. Seelen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2532
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 51, no. 4
pp. 290 – 297

Abstract

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Objective: To optimize rapid clinical recovery and restoration of function and functionality, permissive weight-bearing has been designed as a new aftercare mobilization regimen, within the upper boundary of the therapeutic bandwidth, yet safe enough to avoid overloading. The aim of the present paper is to describe a comprehensive protocol for permissive weight-bearing during allied health therapy and to report on the time to full weight-bearing, as well as the number of complications, in patients with surgically treated fractures of the pelvis and lower extremities undergoing permissive weight-bearing. Patients and methods: This study included surgically treated trauma patients with (peri)- or intra-articular fractures of the pelvis and lower extremities. A standardized permissive weight-bearing protocol was used for all patients. Time to full weight-bearing and number of complications were recorded. Results: This study included 150 patients, 69% male, with a median age of 48 years (interquartile range (IQR) 33.0, 57.0). The median time to full weight bearing was 12.0 weeks (IQR 6.8, 19.2). The complication rate during rehabilitation was 10%. Conclusion: The permissive weight-bearing protocol, as described, might be beneficial and has potential to be implemented in trauma patients with surgically treated (peri)- or intra-articular fractures of the pelvis and lower extremities.

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