title: Driving ability after right-sided ankle arthroscopy--A prospective Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to the current lack of evidence the aim of this study was to investigate the driving ability after right-sided ankle arthroscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients underwent right-sided ankle arthroscopy. Brake response time (BRT) was assessed preoperatively, 2 days, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperative. We also determined patients' clinical outcome (AOFAS and AOS questionnaires) and their driving frequency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BRT was 606ms preoperatively and changed to 821ms 2 days postoperative (p<0.001). The further postoperative BRT course was 606ms (2 weeks), 596ms (6 weeks) and 603ms (12 weeks) (p=n.s.). In addition, a significant influence of the AOS and AOFAS scores on BRT was found, namely poorer clinical outcome also leads to a prolonged BRT (p<0.01 for both). BRT was significantly prolonged in patients with little driving frequency (p=0.001). Furthermore, the 'time-by-driving interaction' was significant (p=0.018), which means the BRT-peak on the second day was much lower in low-frequency drivers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the findings made in the current study we conclude that a driving abstinence of two weeks is necessary following right-sided ankle arthroscopy. Greater driving frequency and good clinical outcome seem to be associated with better driving ability. However, for the time being no exceptions should be made from the above-mentioned recommendation on driving abstinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: michael.liebensteiner@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Liebensteiner
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: matthias.braito@tirol-kliniken.at.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braito
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Electronic address: j.giesinger@nki.nl.
authors.forename: Johannes M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Giesinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: dea.fuchs@me.com.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Orthopaedics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innrain 36, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: david.putzer@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Putzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: reinhard.schuh@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Orthopaedics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innrain 36, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: christian.haid@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haid
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstraße 35, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: gerhard.kaufmann9@chello.at.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ankle arthroscopy; Brake response time; Braking; Driving ability