title: Prognostic factors of health-related quality of life in patients after tibial plafond fracture. A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tibial plafond fractures are a uncommon injury, and the outcomes described in literature are generally poor. The purposes were to determine the effect of the tibial plafond fractures on general health-related quality of life, and to examine the factors that influence these outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 43 patients with average age of 45.6 (range 18-69) years who were also invited for a clinical and radiological reassessment. The primary outcome measure was quality of life assessed by the Short Form-36 questionnaire. Visual analogue scale for pain, and motion of both ankle and subtalar joints were also assessed. Radiological evaluation was performed to assess bone healing, fracture reduction quality, and tibial alignment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up at last visit was 8.1 (range, 4-12) years. Patients who had suffered plafond fracture had significantly poorer quality of life compared with age- and gender-matched general population of our country regardless of the treatment method used. Multivariate analyses showed that the age had influence on the emotional outcomes, educational level and fracture pattern on physical outcomes, and marital status, fracture reduction quality, and ankle motion on both physical and mental component summaries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tibial plafond fractures have a significant negative impact on general health-related quality of life regardless of the operative treatment used which reflects injury severity. In addition, psychosocial characteristics of patients may influence the outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Cutillas-Ybarra
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Elda University Hospital, Ctra Elda-Sax s/n, 03600 Elda, Alicante, Spain. Electronic address: lizaur1@telefonica.net.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lizaur-Utrilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lopez-Prats
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064386:Ankle Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Pilon fracture; Quality of life; Tibial plafond fracture