title: Lower limb trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder: a single UK trauma unit's experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence and factors influencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in victims of severe lower extremity injuries are largely unknown. We studied a cohort of patients treated in a specialist centre to try and elucidate these unknowns.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Scale (PCL-S) was used as a reliable and reproducible patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) assessing all patients for PTSD. Sixty patients were included in the study. This was a prospective analysis of the progression of the PCL-S scores. The data were analysed using a non-parametric Wilcoxon test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty patients were recruited into the study cohort. We found that the incidence in this cohort of PTSD was 30%. We found that age had an influence on outcome. Those who were 50 years old or over had a significantly lower incidence of PTSD according to the PCL-S scores and appeared to recover from it significantly more effectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Up to a third of patients suffering from a severe lower extremity injury will develop PTSD. Patients of the younger age group are more severely affected and will need psychological support to overcome their distress.
authors: Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK. Electronic address: wbhat@hotmail.com.
authors: Waseem
authors: W
authors: Bhat
authors: Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK.
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Marlino
authors: Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Teoh
authors: Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK.
authors: Salman
authors: S
authors: Khan
authors: Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol BS16 1LE, UK.
authors: Umraz
authors: U
authors: Khan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D023821:Limb Salvage; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Lower limb trauma; Outcomes in trauma; PTSD