Long-term quality of life in trauma patients following the full spectrum of tibial injury (fasciotomy, closed fracture, grade IIIB/IIIC open fracture and amputation).
OBJECTIVE
To measure long-term functional outcome and health-related quality of life following tibial fracture in association with the full spectrum of soft tissue injury.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty patients with different types of tibial injury were selected from our trauma database. This included 33 patients with compartment syndrome (no underlying fracture), 30 with closed diaphyseal tibial fractures, 45 with grade IIIB/IIIC open fractures and 22 requiring below knee amputation. Mean time to final follow-up was 37.4 months. The EQ-5D (EuroQol) questionnaire was used to assess these patients at this point. Patients had been treated according to standard unit protocols. Open fractures were jointly managed under the care of local plastic and orthopaedic surgeons using a policy of obtaining early soft tissue cover.


RESULTS
Patients with reconstructed IIIB fractures reported problems with pain and carrying out their normal activities more frequently than amputees whilst still reporting problems with mobility just as frequently. Anxiety and depression were more common in the patients with open fractures and amputees as were problems with self-care, though the latter were unusual overall. Stepwise logistic regression revealed that tibial injury type was significantly predictive of all measured outcomes except self-care (p<0.0001). Age, ISS, sex and time to follow-up were not significant predictors of response.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that patients with these injuries still report long-term problems with their health-related quality of life, though to varying degrees. This information is useful when determining the treatment options for these patients and it is important that it is shared with the patient prior to surgery where possible.
Giannoudis
Peter V
PV
Academic Department Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery, Leeds University, Leeds General Infirmary University Hospital, Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 3EX, UK. Pgiannoudi@aol.com
Harwood
Paul J
PJ
Kontakis
George
G
Allami
Mohamad
M
Macdonald
David
D
Kay
Simon P
SP
Kind
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000523:psychology*; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013977:Tibia / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult