[Clinical effects of Archimedes sling system in the rehabilitation of knee joint flexion dysfunction after deep burn]

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effects of Archimedes sling system in the rehabilitation of knee joint flexion dysfunction of patients after deep burns. Methods: Thirty-seven patients with knee joint flexion dysfunction after deep burn, conforming to the study criteria and hospitalized in Burn Rehabilitation Center of Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University & Wuhan Third Hospital from March 2015 to December 2017, were recruited in this prospective controlled study. According to the order of admission, 18 odd-numbered patients and 19 even-numbered patients were enrolled in conventional treatment (CT) group [13 males and 5 females, aged (42±10) years] and sling treatment (ST) group [13 males and 6 females, aged (37±10) years] respectively. Patients in group CT were conventionally conducted with knee joint mobilization treatment, continuous passive motion treatment, and pressure therapy, while patients in group ST were conducted with supine knee joint flexion and extension training and micro-squat short arc resistance training with Archimedes sling system besides CT. Patients in the 2 groups were treated for 6 months, and 1 course of treatment was 1 month. Before treatment and after 6 months of treatment, the knee joint active motion range was measured and the difference value was calculated, the American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee joint score was used to assess the functional disorder of patients, and the self-function satisfaction of patients were evaluated with modified Likert Scale. Data were processed with independent sample t test, paired sample t test, and chi-square test. Results: (1) Before treatment, the difference value of knee joint active motion range of patients in group CT was (45±11)°, which was similar to (44±12)° in group ST (t=-0.206, P>0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the difference value of knee joint active motion range of patients in group ST was (89±14)°, which was obviously higher than (75±12)° in group CT (t=0.897, P<0.01). The difference values of knee joint active motion range of patients in groups CT and ST after 6 months of treatment were obviously higher than those before treatment (t=-13.394, -29.459, P<0.01). (2) Before treatment, the HSS knee joint score of patients in group CT was (40±10) points, which was similar to (36±11) points in group ST (t=0.816, P>0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the HSS knee joint score of patients in group ST was (68±13) points, which was obviously higher than (57±10) points in group CT (t=0.162, P<0.01). The HSS knee joint score of patients in groups CT and ST after 6 months of treatment were obviously higher than those before treatment (t=-12.410, -30.559, P<0.01). (3) Before treatment, the self-function satisfaction scores of patients in the two groups were similar (t=0.140, P>0.05). After 6 months of treatment, the self-function satisfaction score of patients in group ST was obviously higher than that in group CT (t=3.103, P<0.01). The self-function satisfaction scores of patients in groups CT and ST after 6 months of treatment were obviously higher than those before treatment (t=-11.697, -29.029, P<0.01). Conclusions: The Archimedes sling system can effectively increase the difference value of knee joint active motion range, alleviate the degree of knee joint dysfunction, and enhance the self-function satisfaction of patients on the basis of conventional rehabilitation treatment for patients with knee joint flexion dysfunction after deep burns.