Interprofessional communication and early rehabilitation practices in orthopaedic surgery: a cross-sectional survey

Early rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery is essential for functional recovery, yet its implementation depends on effective communication between orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists. This study evaluated interprofessional communication, collaboration, and early rehabilitation practices in Türkiye. This cross-sectional descriptive survey included 597 participants, comprising 84 orthopaedic surgeons and 513 physiotherapists. Data were collected using a structured online questionnaire assessing demographic and professional characteristics, referral patterns, communication and feedback processes, institutional practices, and attitudes toward early rehabilitation. Group-specific analyses were performed using Pearson χ² tests and multivariable binary logistic regression to identify factors independently associated with high direct communication. Although 96.4% of orthopaedic surgeons stated that early physiotherapy reduces postoperative complications, 27.4% reported that patients started physiotherapy within the first 0–3 postoperative days, whereas 45.3% reported initiation on day 16 or later. Low direct communication was reported by 45.2% of orthopaedic surgeons and 49.9% of physiotherapists. Among orthopaedic surgeons, the presence of a standard physiotherapy protocol was strongly associated with high direct communication (56.7% vs. 14.9%; χ²=16.638; p = 0.002). Among physiotherapists, direct referral by an orthopaedic surgeon, an institutional environment promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, participation in joint scientific meetings, and the presence of an orthopaedic surgeon in the same clinic were significantly associated with higher communication levels (all p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, standard protocol availability and multidisciplinary meeting frequency among orthopaedic surgeons, and institutional support, same-clinic orthopaedic presence, and meeting frequency in physiotherapists remained independently associated with high direct communication. Despite strong awareness of the importance of early rehabilitation, substantial variation was observed in reported rehabilitation timing and interprofessional communication practices. Not applicable.