Postoperative Rehabilitation

The proposal of a comprehensive rehabilitation program after major orthopaedic surgery, specifically Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) and Total Knee arthroplasty (TKA), is a key event in the management of patients affected by haemophilia arthropathy. Rehabilitative protocols should be carried out by a multidisciplinary team. This is a modern approach consists of three main stages: preoperative evaluation and education, in-hospital rehabilitation, and out-patient rehabilitation. The primary purposes are the control of pain, the recovery and maintenance of range of movement, and the muscle strengthening. In-hospital rehabilitation usually starts the day after surgery, using specific protocols in order to gradually counteract joint stiffness and pain. After the discharge haemophilic patients should improve their training with task-oriented exercises. An adequate and individually-tailored rehabilitation program could optimize the result of major orthopaedic surgery, improving the functional ability of haemophiliacs, and resulting in a better quality of life.

Keywords: Continuous passive motion, Haemophilia, Proprioception, Rehabilitation, Total knee arthroplasty, Total hip arthroplasty.