Postoperative Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction through Telerehabilitation with Artificial Intelligence Brace during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), most of the patients expressed a reluctance to undergo postoperative rehabilitation at a rehabilitation clinic. Therefore, in this scenario it was necessary to reshape the crucial role of postoperative rehabilitation of these patients. We conducted a telerehabilitation program based on an artificial intelligence brace (AI brace) which can monitor the progress of rehabilitation through an app and an internet server. Our hypothesis was that home-based telerehabilitation might provide clinical outcomes comparable to face-to-face, hospital-based rehabilitation programs in terms of effectiveness. Methods: A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients who received anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) between January and September 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: the tele-AI group received telerehabilitation with an AI brace while the FTF group had face-to-face, hospital-based rehabilitation. Clinical knee functional scores and Tegner Activity Scale (TAS) were assessed and analyzed until 12 months after the operation. Results: The tele-AI group had higher IKDC scores at 3 months (p = 0.0443) and 6 months (p = 0.0052) after surgery and higher KOOS scores at 1 month (p = 0.0365) and 6 months (p = 0.0375) after surgery. However, no significant difference between the two groups was detected at the end of the follow-up. The tele-AI group had higher TAS than FTF group after 1 year. Conclusions: Telerehabilitation after ACLR seems to provide a superior short-term outcome compared to hospital-based rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Multicomponent supervised tele-rehabilitation versus home-based self-rehabilitation management after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…The inaccessibility of face-to-face post-operative rehabilitation during this period has prompted the swift emergence of contactless rehabilitation methods [ 28 ].Supervised rehabilitation under the guidance of a licensed therapist might prove more efficacious than engaging in unsupervised exercise [ 29 ]. A retrospective cohort study found that telerehabilitation after ACLR seems to provide a superior short-term outcome compared to hospital-based rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 30 ].…”

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: Current Concepts and Future Perspectives

“…In response to the impossibility of in-person rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic, a telerehabilitation program utilizing an AI brace was implemented for patients undergoing ACLR. The tele-AI patients, receiving remote rehabilitation, demonstrated superior short-term outcomes with higher International Knee Documentation Committee scores (IKDC) and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) at various intervals compared to the face-to-face patients undergoing hospital-based rehabilitation [94]. Notably, the tele-AI group exhibited a higher Tegner Activity Scale (TAS) after one year.…”

Effectiveness of the KC@H programme compared with clinic-based rehabilitation in patients recovering from ACL reconstruction: a study protocol for a single-centre, two-arm, single-blinded, randomised controlled superiority trial

“…9 In recent years, several approaches have been using communication technologies to deliver rehabilitation services to individuals at their homes following ACLR. 10 While some evidence suggests that these approaches may be equally beneficial as conventional CR, the available data are insufficient to support their effectiveness in patient-and clinician-reported outcomes fully. 11 Internet-based interventions can potentially improve postoperative recovery by ensuring treatment continuity and providing patients with real-time feedback.…”