Table 2.
Procedure-specific postoperative rehabilitation recommendations
| Procedure | MPFLR (n = 35) |
TTO (n = 9) |
Trochleoplasty (n = 4) |
Combined Procedures (n = 15) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight bearing restrictions | ||||
| Immediate WBAT | 23 (66%) | 2 (22%) | 2 (50%) | 5 (33%) |
| PWB | 9 (26%) | 1 (11%) | 1 (25%) | 6 (40%) |
| NWB/delayed | 2 (6%) | 5 (56%) | 1 (25%) | 3 (20%) |
| Unspecified | 1 (3%) | 1 (11%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (7%) |
| P value | < 0.001 | 0.197 | 0.779 | 0.607 |
| Bracing restrictions | ||||
| Locked (in extension) | 19 (54%) | 6 (67%) | 1 (25%) | 8 (53%) |
| Unlocked/hinged | 9 (26%) | 2 (22%) | 0 (0%) | 4 (27%) |
| Unspecified | 7 (20%) | 1 (11%) | 3 (75%) | 3 (20%) |
| P value | 0.059 | 0.157 | - | 0.248 |
| Brace duration | ||||
| 0–6 weeks | 22 (63%) | 2 (22%) | 0 (0%) | 7 (47%) |
| > 6 weeks | 3 (9%) | 6 (67%) | 1 (25%) | 5 (33%) |
| Unspecified | 10 (29%) | 1 (11%) | 3 (75%) | 3 (20%) |
| P value | < 0.001 | 0.655 | - | 0.564 |
| Brace weaning criteria | ||||
| Time-based | 10 (29%) | 3 (33%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (13%) |
| Functional-based | 16 (46%) | 3 (33%) | 1 (25%) | 9 (60%) |
| Unspecified | 9 (26%) | 3 (33%) | 3 (75%) | 4 (27%) |
| P value | 0.239 | 1.000 | - | 0.035 |
| Full ROM milestones | ||||
| 0–6 weeks | 12 (37%) | 3 (33%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (13%) |
| 6–12 weeks | 18 (51%) | 4 (44%) | 2 (50%) | 8 (53%) |
| > 12 weeks | 2 (6%) | 1 (11%) | 0 (0%) | 3 (20%) |
| Unspecified | 3 (9%) | 1 (11%) | 2 (50%) | 2 (13%) |
| P value | 0.002 | 0.417 | - | 0.092 |
| RTS criteria | ||||
| Time-based | 32 (91%) | 8 (89%) | 3 (75%) | 14 (93%) |
| Functional-based | 32 (91%) | 7 (78%) | 4 (100%) | 14 (93%) |
| Strength-based | 28 (80%) | 8 (89%) | 3 (75%) | 11 (73%) |
| Psychological-based | 15 (42%) | 3 (33%) | 2 (50%) | 9 (60%) |
| Physician approval | 7 (23%) | 2 (22%) | 2 (50%) | 4 (44%) |
Values are numbers and valid proportions (%). P values follow Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests, meaning values > 0.05 indicate variability in recommendations. MPFLR medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, TTO tibial tubercle osteotomy, WBAT weight bearing as tolerated, PWB partial weight bearing, NWB non-weight bearing, Functional-based brace weaning criteria = straight leg raise (SLR) or quadriceps control tests, ROM range-of-motion, RTS return-to-sports, Functional-based RTS criteria = hop or Y-balance tests, Strength-based RTS criteria = limb symmetric index (LSI) threshold ≥ 80–90%, Psychological-based RTS criteria = MPFL/ACL Return to Sport after Injury (RSI), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), Marx Activity Scale, and subjective confidence assessments