The importance of applying early rehabilitation after meniscotomy to adolescents

Abstract

Meniscus injuries occupy an important place among damages to the knee joint and are crucially important for athlets. Arthroscopy is a method of choice in both diagnostic as well as therapeutic treatment. After the intervention, it is necessary to start physical tretmeant as soon as possible. The study presents the treatment of 14 year old female patient, who started physical therapy five days after the removal of part of the lateral meniscus. Procedures involved electrical and kinesy therapy. Within the kinesy treatment static contractions were included, lymphatic drainage, and also passive exercises in order to increase range of motion. In the end, exercises against resistance were conducted to strengthen the musculature. After one month of therapy the treatment was completed, and patient was advised to continue strengthening the musculature at home. During the last examination the absence of swelling was noted, with painful sensitivity and limited motion in the knee. The MMT score for qvadriceps femoris was 4. The patient was advised to start with the lighter recreative activities. Arthroscopic meniscotomy is relatively rare intervention with adolescents, which was the motive for displaying this case. Applying early rehabilitation is fully exploited regenerative potential of this age and the optimal time for patients to return completely to usual activities.

Keywords

• Early rehabilitation
• meniscotomy
• adolescents