Objective  To investigate the effectiveness of applying a standardized rehabilitation process in correction of adult clubfoot with the Ilizarov technique. Methods  Thirty-eight adult patients who underwent orthopedic treatment with Ilizarov technique for clubfoot between August 2022 and December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a study group and a control group with 19 cases in each group according to the different rehabilitation management processes and methods. The differences in baseline data such as gender, age, side, and preoperative Holden walking function grading between the two groups were not significant (P>0.05). In both groups, most of the clubfoot deformities were surgically corrected first, and the residual deformities were corrected by dynamic slow retraction with Ilizarov ring-type external fixation frame. The study group adopted standardized rehabilitation process management mode, including preoperative lower limb muscle strength training, postoperative pain and swelling management, weight-bearing management, gait and lower limb stability training. The control group adopted the conventional postoperative rehabilitation management mode. The occurrence of complications was recorded, including pin tract infection, ankle stiffness and pain, and deformity recurrence. Holden walking function grading was used to evaluate the walking ability of the patients. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by the QIN Sihe Deformity Correction Disability Repair and Functional Reconstruction Postoperative Efficacy Evaluation Scale. Patient satisfaction was evaluated by Likert score. Results  Patients in both groups successfully completed surgery and rehabilitation and were followed up. The follow-up time ranged from 8 to 29 months, with a mean of 18.5 months. Among them, the follow-up time was (18.8±5.5) months in the study group and (18.2±5.7) months in the control group, and the difference between groups was not significant (t=0.316, P=0.754). The postoperative incidences of pin tract infection, ankle stiffness and pain, and deformity recurrence in the study group were 10.53%, 5.26%, and 5.26%, respectively, and in the control group were 21.05%, 36.84%, and 15.79%, respectively. And the difference between groups in the incidence of ankle stiffness and pain was significant (P=0.042). At last follow-up, both groups showed an improvement in Holden walking function grading compared to preoperative levels (P<0.05), and the grading of the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P=0.006). According to the QIN Sihe Deformity Correction Disability Repair and Functional Reconstruction Postoperative Efficacy Evaluation Scale, the grade difference between groups was not significant (P=0.089), and the excellent and good rates of clinical efficacy in study group and control group were 89.47% (17/19) and 73.68% (14/19), respectively. Patient satisfaction in study group was significantly better than that in control group (P=0.036). Conclusion  Standardized rehabilitation process can effectively promote the postoperative functional recovery of adult clubfoot treated with Ilizarov technique, reduce the risk of complications and improve effectiveness.

Citation： LIU Lizhu, QIN Sihe, SHI Lei. Application of a standardized rehabilitation process in correction of adult clubfoot with Ilizarov technique. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2025, 39(8): 1002-1007. doi: 10.7507/1002-1892.202505016 Copy

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