KINESIOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT FOR SEQUELS AFTER RADIAL HEAD FRACTURES

Abstract

Radial head fractures have important place among the traumatic injuries of the elbow. Physical therapy treatment has been shown to be beneficial for controlling inflammation, improving healing, reducing edema and pain, increasing strength and range of motion. Objective: To analyze the functional evolution of patients that after radial head fractures underwent a kinesiotherapeutic protocol, because they had stiffness or blockage of the elbow joint. Methods: Five patients, mean age of 37.4±14.8 years, with comminuted radial head fractures, up to one year from date of injury, and that received surgical treatment were subjected to fifteen physiotherapy sessions twice a week, using of hydrotherapy associated with kinesiotherapy. Data were analyzed on the BioEstat Software 5.0 by means of the t-Student test. Results: It was found pain reduction, improvement in member functionality and gain in range of motion statistically significant for flexion (p = 0.0154), extension (p = 0.0062) and supination (p = 0.0323), with a significance level of  ≤ 0.05. No significant difference was found for the movement of pronation (p = 0.1201). Conclusion: Despite the little gain in range of movement of pronation, were achieved results that showed the effectiveness of the proposed treatment. Further researches are needed to be conducted in order to ratify kinesiotherapeutic efficiency. DESCRIPTORES: Physical Therapy Specialty. Elbow. Rehabilitation