Patient-Oriented Functional Outcome After Unilateral Lower Extremity Fracture

摘要

To determine patient-perceived functional outcome after lower extremity fracture(LEF), a prospective, follow-up study of patients managed at three level 1 trauma centers was conducted. Patients with unilateral LEF involving the acetabulum and distally were eligible for the study. A total of 444 patients were enrolled. Of these, 363 (82 percent) were interviewed at 6 months postdischarge. Study patients were predominantly young (mean age 34 years), white (72 percent) men (710 percent) who had been working preinjury (78 percent). Their injuries resulted primarily from motor vehicle crashes (73 percent); 30 percent had more than one fracture to the same extremity. Functional status was measured using the Sickness Impact profile (SIP), a well-validated, general health status instrument. Mean 6-month SIP scores were significantly worse (Higher) than those based on preinjury activities (9.8 vs. 2.5) (p less than 0.01). Overall disability levels were moderate compared with other health conditions.