Long-term effects on body functions, activity and participation of hemiplegic patients in equino varus foot deformity surgical correction followed by immediate rehabilitation. A prospective observational study.

Background: Functional surgery is an effective approach in the treatment of the rigid equinovarus foot deformity (EVFD). This must be associated with early rehabilitation treatments (ERTs) to prevent muscle rearrangements due to immobilization. Objectives: To assess the effects of EVFD surgical correction in adult stroke patients, when assessed according to the ICF domains. Methods: Variables from 24 adult chronic stroke survivors with EVFD surgical correction followed by ERT, age 55 ± 13 years, affected side 12L/12R, time from lesion 5 ± 4 years were analyzed. Body function domain: pain (NPRS), walking speed, clinical global impression of change (cGIC). Activity domain: Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), FAC, and 6 min walking test (6MWT). Participation domain: Walking Handicap Scale (WHS). Patients were assessed before (T0), one (T1), three (T2) and twelve (T3) months after surgery by a single assessor. Results: All variables but the 6MWT significantly improved (Wilcoxon test, p < .05) at T1 or T2 and this remained until the 12-months mark. Since T1, all patients reached and maintained a supervised independent walking (FAC≥3) and all those wearing an AFO stopped using it. The median cGCI was "much improved" at T1, with a "further minimal improvement" at T3. This was not associated with the improvement measured by both FAC, and WHS (Chi-square test, p = .20 and p = .36, respectively). Conclusions: Functional surgery combined with ERT is effective in improving the patients' condition according to all ICF domains. Both subjective and objective assessments have to be used when assessing these patients.