What happened?
A 40-year-old man presented 53 days after fixation of a comminuted patellar fracture with severe knee stiffness. Medical comorbidities had delayed early rehabilitation, making safe progression and monitoring central to the case.
Clinical findings
- Knee flexion was 10 degrees at initial assessment.
- Pain was 8/10; Kujala score 19/100 and Lysholm score 7/100.
- The fracture had been treated with open reduction and internal fixation.
Rehabilitation described in the report
- Four-week programme combining supervised continuous passive motion for one hour per day, four days per week, with a structured home exercise programme.
- CPM settings were progressed according to pain and tolerance; post-operative precautions and surgeon guidance remain essential.
Reported outcomes
- After four weeks, knee flexion reached 110 degrees.
- Pain was 0/10 at rest and 3/10 with movement; Kujala score rose to 69/100 and Lysholm score to 76/100.
Clinical lessons to consider
- Record baseline range, pain and patient-reported function to show change clearly.
- Late presentation requires careful coordination with surgical restrictions and comorbidities.
- Home exercise and adherence were part of the combined plan.
Limitations — what this case cannot tell us
- One case cannot prove CPM is necessary or superior to other rehabilitation approaches.
- Do not copy the protocol without checking fracture stability, surgical instructions and individual risk.
Original source
Mohammad Ali, Timothy Miller. “Continuous Passive Motion in the Rehabilitation of a Comminuted Patellar Fracture Following Delayed Physiotherapy Initiation: A Case Report.” Clinical Case Reports, 2026. DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.71806
View the original publicationThis page is an independently written educational summary, not a reproduction of the full paper. Check the original article for complete methods, outcome tables, references and licensing.