Lower Extremity Kinematic Profile of Gait of Patients After Ankle Fracture: A Case-Control Study.
The present study examined the differences in the lower extremity gait kinematic profile of patients recovering from ankle fracture compared with healthy controls. In addition, we inquired whether the profile would differ among fracture severity groups. A total of 48 patients participated in the present prospective, case-control study. The gait of 24 patients recovering from an ankle fracture injury and 24 healthy matched controls was examined using an inertial measurement unit sensor system. The following gait parameters were evaluated: knee range of motion (ROM) during the swing phase, maximum knee flexion angle during stance, thigh and calf ROM, and stride duration. Statistically significant differences were found between the ankle fracture group and the control group for all parameters. The patients with ankle fracture had a lower knee ROM during swing phase compared with the control group (mean ± standard deviation 43.0° ± 15.5° compared with 66.7° ± 5.1°, respectively; p < .001). The maximum knee flexion angle during stance was lower in the patients with ankle fracture than in the control group (mean ± standard deviation 10.5° ± 6.1° compared with 21.2° ± 4.5°, respectively; p < .001). Patients with ankle fracture also had lower gait cycle thigh and calf ROM angles (p < .001) and a longer stride duration (p < .001) compared with the control group. No statistically significant differences were found among the severity groups. These results suggest that the gait kinematic characteristics vary between healthy people and patients recovering from an ankle fracture injury during the short-term period after injury.
AposTherapy Research Group, Herzliya, Israel.
Avi
A
Elbaz
AposTherapy Research Group, Herzliya, Israel. Electronic address: researchdept10@gmail.com.
Amit
A
Mor
AposTherapy Research Group, Herzliya, Israel.
Ganit
G
Segal
AposTherapy Research Group, Herzliya, Israel.
Dana
D
Bar
University College of London Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Science, London, UK.
Maureen K
MK
Monda
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel.
Benjamin
B
Kish
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel.
Meir
M
Nyska
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel.
Ezequiel
E
Palmanovich
D000328:Adult; D064386:Ankle Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012016:Reference Values
gait analysis; kinematics; range of motion; tibia; trauma