title: Driving reaction time after right knee arthroscopy.
abstract: Driving reaction times of 30 right knee arthroscopy patients were measured using a computer-linked car simulator. Each patient was tested pre-operatively and 1 week after and 4 weeks after arthroscopy. As controls, 25 normal subjects were also tested. In the control group the average reaction time was 634 ms; the measurements at 1 week and at 4 weeks were 550 ms and 582 ms, respectively. In the arthroscopy group the average reaction time pre-operatively was 736 ms; the measurements 1 week and 4 weeks post-operatively were 920 ms and 685 ms, respectively. Two clinical tests (the stepping and standing tests) were also performed at each assessment. Statistical analysis showed a good correlation between these and reaction time. We conclude that it is appropriate for patients to delay their return to driving for at least 1 week, and that the actual timing of return to driving may be determined by performance on these two clinical tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hau
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Csongvay
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001334:Automobile Driving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011930:Reaction Time