ObjectiveTo clarify the intervention guidance of return to sports WeChat applet and evaluate the rehabilitation effectiveness after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. MethodsBetween September 2020 and September 2022, 80 patients who met the selection criteria and underwent ACL anatomical single bundle reconstruction were selected as the research objects. According to the double-blind random method, they were divided into the applet group and the regular group, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in the applet group were rehabilitated under the guidance of the return to sports WeChat applet, and the patients were asked to perform the test once a month after operation, including patients’ subjective scores [Tegner score, knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score], psychological assessment [ACL recovery sports injury scale (ACL-RSI) score], jumping test, balance test, bending angle test. Patients in the regular group were followed up by doctors and nurses regularly by telephone every month. All the patients were reexamined at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after operation, and the range of motion of the knee joint with 6 degrees of freedom (flexion and extension angle, varus and valgus angle, internal and external rotation angle, anteroposterior displacement, superior and inferior displacement, and internal and external displacement) recorded by Opti_Knee three-dimensional knee joint motion measurement gait analysis system was observed. The anterior tibial translation difference (ATTD) was measured by Ligs knee measuring instrument when a forward thrust of 120 N was applied to the posterior part of the proximal tibia. Tegner score, IKDC score, KOOS score (including KOOS-Pain score, KOOS-Symptoms score, KOOS-Activities of daily living score, KOOS-Sport score, and KOOS-Quality of life score), HSS score, ACL-RSI score, jumping ability, balance ability, patients’ satisfaction with the rehabilitation process, and ACL healing grading according to ACL continuity and signal intensity shown by MRI. Results There were significant differences in various indicators between different time points after operation in the two groups (P<0.05). At 3 months after operation, except that the ACL-RSI score of the applet group was significantly higher than that of the regular group (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in the other indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). At 6 months after operation, the ACL-RSI score, IKDC score, Tegner score, KOOS scores of different items, HSS score, balance and jumping ability of the applet group were significantly higher than those of the regular group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the other indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). At 9 months after operation, there was no significant difference in all indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). At 12 months after operation, 27 cases (67.5%) in the applet group and 21 cases (52.5%) in the regular group returned to sport, with a significant difference of the return to sports incidence between the two groups [RR(95%CI)=1.50 (1.00, 2.25), P=0.049]. In the applet group, 27 cases were very satisfied with the rehabilitation process, 10 cases were satisfied, 2 cases were basically satisfied, and 1 case was not satisfied, while 19, 13, 5, and 3 cases in the regular group, respectively. The satisfaction degree of the applet group was significantly better than that of the regular group (P=0.049). MRI examination of the two groups showed that the ACL was continuous without secondary rupture or necrosis. The ACL healing grade of the applet group was 31 cases of grade 1 and 9 cases of grade 2, and that of the regular group was 28 cases of grade 1 and 12 cases of grade 2, there was no significant difference in ACL healing grade between the two groups (P=0.449). ConclusionThe application of return to sports WeChat applet in the rehabilitation of patients after ACL reconstruction can significantly reduce the fear of return to sports and improve the rate of return to sports. The return to sports WeChat applet is convenient to operate, with high utilization rate and high patient compliance, which significantly improves the satisfaction.
Objective To compare the effects of WeChat applet follow-up and traditional follow-up on postoperative recovery quality of patients undergoing ambulatory knee arthroscopy surgery. Methods Participants who planned to undergo knee arthroscopic meniscus repair in the Ambulatory Surgery Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between September 2024 and April 2025 were enrolled. Patients were divided into WeChat applet follow-up group (App group) and traditional telephone follow-up group (control group) by random number table method. The basic information of patients was collected, and the quality of recovery, pain score, medication use, nausea and vomiting, sleep quality, analgesic satisfaction and satisfaction with treatment were evaluated on the first and third day after surgery. Results A total of 80 patients was enrolled, with 40 patients in each group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P>0.05). The total score of postoperative recovery quality in the control group was lower than that in the App group [postoperative day 1: (108.2±9.6) vs. (112.5±9.2) scores, postoperative day 3: (112.0±9.1) vs. (118.3±8.7) scores], physiological comfort [postoperative day 1: (21.8±2.9) vs. (23.4±2.7) scores, postoperative day 3: (23.1±2.6) vs. (25.6±2.4) scores]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in postoperative nausea and vomiting, length of stay in post-anesthetic care unit, total dosage of postoperative analgesics, time to first report of pain, time to first request for analgesia, sleep quality score on the night after surgery, and analgesic satisfaction score within 24 hours after surgery (P>0.05). The satisfaction score of the App group was higher than that of the control group at 1 week after surgery (P<0.001). Conclusion Compared with the traditional follow-up method, the follow-up based on the WeChat applet can effectively improve the early postoperative recovery quality and treatment satisfaction of patients undergoing ambulatory knee arthroscopy surgery, and has no significant effect on other clinical outcomes.