Evaluation of the effectiveness of outpatient rehabilitation of patients after knee injuries

Summary Paliūnis Žygimantas. Evaluation of the effectiveness of outpatient rehabilitation of patients after knee injuries. Master's thesis. Supervisor- doc. J. Samėnienė; Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Rehabilitation. Kaunas, 2018. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of outpatient rehabilitation in patients with knee joint injuries. Tasks: Compare the incidence of different knee joint injuries among the sexes. Compare the results of male and female pain perception and functional capacity before and after outpatient rehabilitation. To compare the pain perception and functional capacity of patients before and after outpatient rehabilitation in groups with different knee joint injuries. Determine gender influence on perception of pain before and after outpatient rehabilitation in different knee joint disorders groups. To determine gender influence on functional capacity before and after outpatient rehabilitation in different knee joint disorders groups. Methodology: In a retrospective study, data were analyzed for 146 patients with knee joint diseases,who were examined and treated at LSMU Hospital, Kaunas Clinics, Rehabilitation Clinic, outpatient rehabilitation department. Patients were examined before and after outpatient rehabilitation using functional capacity and pain assessment tools: Modified Keitel Functional Test (MKFT) and Verbal Rating Scale (VRS). Results: The sample consisted of 70 men (47,9%) and 76 women (52,1%). The average age of outpatient rehabilitation patients was 46,97 ± 16,11. Gonarthrosis-induced injuries to the knee accounted for the largest part of all diseases - 52,1%, anterior cruciate ligament injuries- 23,3%, the meniscus and patella injuries accounted for 15,1% and 9,6 %. The mean MKFT in the groups of patients with gonarthrosis, PKR, meniscus and patella injuries increased by 17,7%, 19,1%, 4,3% and 18,8%. The mean VRS score for the groups decreased by 74,9%, 87,8%, 71,7% and 68,1%. Conclusions: There was significantly more women in the gonarthrosis group and significantly more men in the group with ACL injuries.The overall average of VRS and MKFT before and after rehabilitation among different groups of diseases varied considerably. In the group of gonarthrosis injuries, the mean values of VRS before and after rehabilitation were significantly higher for women than men. In the group of gonarthrosis-damaged joint, the mean values of MKFT before and after rehabilitation were significantly higher in men than in women