Postoperative Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction through Telerehabilitation with Artificial Intelligence Brace during COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), most of the patients expressed a reluctance to undergo postoperative rehabilitation at a rehabilitation clinic. Therefore, in this scenario it was necessary to reshape the crucial role of postoperative rehabilitation of these patients. We conducted a telerehabilitation program based on an artificial intelligence brace (AI brace) which can monitor the progress of rehabilitation through an app and an internet server. Our hypothesis was that home-based telerehabilitation might provide clinical outcomes comparable to face-to-face, hospital-based rehabilitation programs in terms of effectiveness. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients who received anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) between January and September 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: the tele-AI group received telerehabilitation with an AI brace while the FTF group had face-to-face, hospital-based rehabilitation. Clinical knee functional scores and Tegner Activity Scale (TAS) were assessed and analyzed until 12 months after the operation. RESULTS: The tele-AI group had higher IKDC scores at 3 months (p = 0.0443) and 6 months (p = 0.0052) after surgery and higher KOOS scores at 1 month (p = 0.0365) and 6 months (p = 0.0375) after surgery. However, no significant difference between the two groups was detected at the end of the follow-up. The tele-AI group had higher TAS than FTF group after 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Telerehabilitation after ACLR seems to provide a superior short-term outcome compared to hospital-based rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Novel, safe, and easy spinal osteotomy for regional kyphotic deformities.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a newly developed transpedicular, anterior open-wedge osteotomy procedure with lamina preservation to correct sagittal imbalance in regional kyphotic deformities following compression fractures. METHODS: All seven patients [four females and three males; mean (range) age, 67 (56-78) years] included in this study underwent surgery between May 2005 and May 2016 for symptomatic, rigid kyphosis secondary to compression fractures. Transpedicular, anterior open-wedge osteotomy with lamina preservation was performed in all patients using an osteotome to create a transverse fracture in the vertebral body through bilateral pedicles and an anterior open-wedge space filled with compacted bone graft to correct kyphosis. Pre- and post-operative kyphotic Cobb angles were evaluated, and the volume of intra-operative blood loss was measured. RESULTS: The pre- and post-operative kyphotic Cobb angle was 35.3° and 17.7°, respectively (p<0.01); mean angle correction was 17.6° (p<0.05). No patient developed any complication with neurologic injury. Mean blood loss was 771 mL. Callus formation viewed on plain film was evident in all patients and was accompanied by decreased thoracolumbar back pain. CONCLUSION: Transpedicular, anterior open-wedge osteotomy with lamina preservation is an easy and safe spinal osteotomy procedure for the correction of regional, fixed kyphotic deformities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Therapeutic study.