Open AccessDo Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters Improve After Pilon Fracture in Patients Who Use the Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis?
Author(s) -
Michael Quacinella,
Ethan Bernstein,
Brittney Mazzone,
Marilynn Wyatt,
Kevin Kuhn
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical orthopaedics and related research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1528-1132
pISSN - 0009-921X
DOI - 10.1097/corr.0000000000000487
Subject(s) - medicine , pilon fracture , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , gait , ankle , surgery , external fixation , external fixator
Pilon fractures are high-energy fractures about the ankle observed commonly in both civilian and military trauma populations. Despite surgical management, outcomes are predictably poorly characterized by functional deficits secondary to pain and stiffness. The Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis (IDEO) and Return-to-Run clinical pathway were initially designed to treat military service members after complex battlefield lower extremity injuries. The IDEO has been used to treat nonbattlefield injuries, but, to our knowledge, it has not been studied specifically among patients with pilon fractures. By studying the use of the IDEO in this patient population, we hope to learn how it might improve ambulation in the community, relieve pain, and return patients to work to better identify patients who might benefit from its use.