Gait Symmetry Analysis in Patients after Treatment of Pilon Fractures by the Ilizarov Method
Łukasz Pawik,
Paweł Wietecki,
Artur Leśkow,
Andżelika Pajchert Kozłowska,
Sławomir Żarek,
Radosław Górski,
Malwina Pawik,
Felicja Fink-Lwow,
Wiktor Urbański,
Piotr Morasiewicz
Affiliations
Łukasz Pawik
Department of Physiotherapy in Motor Disorders and Dysfunctions, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Al. IJ Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland
Paweł Wietecki
Department and Clinic of Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
Artur Leśkow
Department of Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Traumatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Lindeya 4, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland
Andżelika Pajchert Kozłowska
Department and Clinic of Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
Sławomir Żarek
Department of Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Traumatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Lindeya 4, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland
Radosław Górski
Department of Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Traumatology, Medical University of Warsaw, Lindeya 4, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland
Malwina Pawik
Health Promotion, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Al. IJ Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland
Felicja Fink-Lwow
Health Promotion, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education in Wroclaw, Al. IJ Paderewskiego 35, 51-612 Wroclaw, Poland
Wiktor Urbański
Department and Clinic of Neurosurgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
Piotr Morasiewicz
Department and Clinic of Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the gait parameters in patients who had undergone treatment of pilon fractures by the Ilizarov method. We analyzed gait parameters in patients who had undergone treatment for pilon fractures by the Ilizarov method; 20 patients aged 47.0 years (25.2–78.6) were included in the study. The control group consisted of 32 healthy volunteers. Gait examination was performed using the pedobarographic platform. Statistically significant differences in the following gait parameters: maximum forefoot force (%), step length (cm), and step time (s) were found between the study group and the control group, between the nonoperated leg, and both the operated leg and the dominant limb. Statistically significant differences in the study group between the treated lower limb and the healthy lower limb were only observed in the case of the maximum forefoot force parameter (%). Healthy subjects from the control group obtained significantly higher values during locomotion for stride time, cadence step, and velocity than the patients, with stride time being statistically significantly shorter and the velocity and the cadence step higher. We observed symmetry in the gait parameters after treating pilon fractures by the Ilizarov method. This method of stabilization allows the restoration of gait parameters, with results similar to those obtained after the treatment of other motor organ pathologies described in the literature, although different from those observed in healthy subjects. In particular, the biomechanics of the lower limbs remain disturbed.
