# Rehabilitation of a Patient With D12 Wedge Compression Fracture and Bilateral Foot Drop With Spinal Fusion and Posterior Decompression: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 67-year-old woman with a spinal fracture and foot drop improved after surgery and a tailored three-week rehabilitation program.

## Contribution

This case report presents a detailed post-operative rehabilitation protocol for a patient with spinal fusion and bilateral foot drop.

## Key findings

- The patient showed improvement in pain and daily living activities after rehabilitation.
- Lower limb muscle strength and range of motion improved with the treatment protocol.
- Mild assistance was still needed for daily tasks post-rehabilitation.

## Abstract

Vertebral fracture (VF) is one of the most common injuries seen in individuals with osteoporosis, especially in post-menopausal females. There is an increase in bone resorption rate, leading to the destruction of the microarchitecture of bone. A 67-year-old female patient diagnosed with wedge compression fracture of the D12 vertebra, mild compression of the spinal cord, and bilateral foot drop came to a tertiary care hospital, where she underwent spinal fusion at the D11-L1 level and posterior decompression, after which she was referred to physiotherapy, where a patient-tailored treatment protocol was made and implemented over three weeks. Outcome measures like the visual analog scale (VAS), functional independence measure (FIM), and Oswestry's low back disability questionnaire were recorded before and after rehabilitation, and improvement in pain and activities of daily living (ADL) was found. The patient needed mild assistance. There was also improvement in the range and strength of the lower limb muscles. This case report aims to provide a comprehensive treatment protocol for a post-operative spinal fusion and bilateral foot drop patient.