Scholl Schell M, Xavier de Araujo F, Silva MF. Physiotherapy assessment and treatment of patients with tibial external fixator: a systematic scoping review.
Disabil Rehabil 2024;
46:1673-1684. [PMID:
37118977 DOI:
10.1080/09638288.2023.2202419]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE
To map evidence regarding physiotherapy assessment and treatment of patients with tibial external fixator (EF), and to point out literature gaps for further research.
METHODS
Systematic scoping review conducted in four databases. We included both experimental and non-experimental studies involving patients with tibial EF and outcomes of interest. We recorded study design, population, sample size, sample age, reason for EF use, type of surgery, type of EF used, instruments used for assessing function, pain, quality of life, satisfaction, psychosocial aspects, and physiotherapy treatment descriptions from included studies. We categorised data accordingly to outcomes assessed and physiotherapy treatments description.
RESULTS
Eighty-six studies were included involving 3070 patients. Causes of fixator use were traumatic conditions, acquired and congenital deformities, and non-traumatic conditions, like compartmental osteoarthritis. Function was assessed in about three-quarters of included studies, though other outcomes were not presented in most studies. Only one study described satisfactorily the physiotherapy treatment. Almost half of the studies did not provide any description of the rehabilitation process.
CONCLUSIONS
There is little evidence about the assessment of function, pain, quality of life, satisfaction, psychosocial aspects, and other outcomes in tibial EF patients. Physiotherapy treatment in these patients is poorly reported.Protocol registration: Open Science Framework: doi:10.17605/OSF.IO/UT2DA.
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