The Effect of Enhanced Rehabilitation Program on Upper Limb Function in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Pedicle Flap Surgery.

This article investigates the impact of an enhanced rehabilitation program on upper limb function in patients undergoing abdominal pedicle flap surgery, a two-stage procedure commonly used to repair severe hand and forearm skin defects. The study retrospectively analyzed 70 patients divided into a traditional rehabilitation group (rehabilitation starting after stage II pedicle dissection) and an enhanced rehabilitation group (rehabilitation initiated the day after stage I surgery). Results showed that early rehabilitation significantly improved passive range of motion (PROM) in shoulder flexion, abduction, and elbow extension, and reduced hospital stay length without increasing costs. Both groups demonstrated improvements in activities of daily living (ADL), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and muscle strength one month post-surgery, highlighting the benefits of continuous rehabilitation therapy in functional recovery after abdominal pedicle flap surgery.