Effect of Rehabilitation Exercise Program on Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Patellar Fracture Surgery

Background: Following patellar fracture surgery (internal fixation), a rehabilitation exercise program is essential to returning to daily activities. Aim: To evaluate the effect of rehabilitation exercise program on outcomes of patients with patellar fractures surgery. Research design: A quasi experimental research design was utilized. Sample: A convenient sample of 50 male and female adult patients underwent Patellar fracture fixation (tension band wiring) with an age ranged from 20 to 60 years old. Patients divided on random basis equally into study and control groups (25 patients for each). Setting: The study was carried out in truma center at Assiut University Hospital. Tools: Tool (I) Patient's health needs assessment record. Tool (II) Lysholm Rating Scale. Tool (III) Patient satisfaction with nursing care quality questionnaire. Results: nearly half patients (48%) of study group had fair level of Lysholm knee score after 1.5 month while one fifth (20%) in control group. after two weeks, the great majority of the study group (96%) was satisfied with the quality of the nursing care, compared to more than half (56%) in the control group.. Conclusion: Rehabilitation exercise program was effective in improving function of patients' knee post patellar fracture and satisfaction with nursing care quality. Recommendation: Rehabilitation exercise program are recommended to be an integral part of the preoperative nursing teaching for patients underwent Patellar fracture surgery.