Effects of a tailored rehabilitation treatment in lower limb Soft Tissue Sarcomas reconstruction: a case series.
Andrea Demofonti, Beniamino Brunetti, Marco Germanotta and 6 others
PMID 41566361WHAT IT FOUND
Three men with thigh sarcomas reconstructed with free muscle flaps improved walking speed and daily function after a 3-month tailored rehab program.
Pain scores varied, but all reported better quality of life. Gains persisted at one-year follow-up, though results rely on crutch-assisted gait.
Key findings
01All three patients showed progressive improvements in walking speed and stride length from the start of rehabilitation to the one-year follow-up.
02Functional scores for daily life activities (MSTS-LL and TESS-LL) improved significantly in all patients, with two reaching 'excellent' or 'good' function ratings by the end of the study.
03Neuropathic pain outcomes were mixed: one patient's pain score dropped from 17 to 0, another decreased from 16 to 11, while the third remained stable at 21-22.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Small sample size (n=3) and heterogeneity in tumor location and surgical extent limit generalizability. All gait assessments were performed with a unilateral crutch, which may mask residual disabilities present during independent walking. No control group or comparison to standard care; improvements cannot be definitively attributed to the specific rehabilitation protocol rather than natural recovery. Long-term follow-up data is limited to a single time point (1-1.4 years post-surgery).
Declared interests
Funded by the European Union–NextGenerationEU and the Italian Ministry of Health (Ministero della Salute).
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these patients walked independently. All gait improvements and functional scores were measured while the patients used a crutch, so the data reflects crutch-assisted recovery, not necessarily unassisted ambulation.
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