Mark R Brinker1, Bryan D Hanus2, Milan Sen3, Daniel P O'Connor4. 1. Fondren Orthopedic Group, Center for Problem Fractures and Limb Restoration, Texas Orthopedic Hospital, 7401 South Main Street, Houston, TX 77030. 2. Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, D-4314 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030. 4. Laboratory of Integrated Physiology, University of Houston, 3855 Holman Street, GAR104, Houston, TX 77204-6015. E-mail address: doconnor2@uh.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tibial nonunion is disabling, but to our knowledge no quantitative evaluation of its effect on health-related quality of life has been reported. METHODS: We evaluated 243 tibial shaft fracture nonunions in 237 consecutive patients (seventy-nine female [age, 49.4 ± 14.9 years] and 158 male [age, 46.3 ± 15.4 years]) who were referred to a single surgeon at our tertiary care center over a ten-year period. The most frequently affected tibial segment was the distal third (49%), and infection was present in 18% of all cases. RESULTS: The Short Form (SF)-12 Physical Component Summary score averaged 27.4 ± 6.7, indicating an extremely disabling effect on physical health. The AAOS (American Academy or Orthopaedic Surgeons) Lower Limb Core Scale score averaged 52.0 ± 19.4, also consistent with high levels of physical disability attributable to the lower limb. The SF-12 Mental Component Summary score averaged 42.3 ± 7.1, indicating a substantial detrimental effect on mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of tibial shaft fracture nonunion on physical health was comparable with the reported impact of end-stage hip arthrosis and worse than that of congestive heart failure. Tibial shaft fracture nonunion is a devastating chronic medical condition that negatively affects both physical and mental health and quality of life.
BACKGROUND: Tibial nonunion is disabling, but to our knowledge no quantitative evaluation of its effect on health-related quality of life has been reported. METHODS: We evaluated 243 tibial shaft fracture nonunions in 237 consecutive patients (seventy-nine female [age, 49.4 ± 14.9 years] and 158 male [age, 46.3 ± 15.4 years]) who were referred to a single surgeon at our tertiary care center over a ten-year period. The most frequently affected tibial segment was the distal third (49%), and infection was present in 18% of all cases. RESULTS: The Short Form (SF)-12 Physical Component Summary score averaged 27.4 ± 6.7, indicating an extremely disabling effect on physical health. The AAOS (American Academy or Orthopaedic Surgeons) Lower Limb Core Scale score averaged 52.0 ± 19.4, also consistent with high levels of physical disability attributable to the lower limb. The SF-12 Mental Component Summary score averaged 42.3 ± 7.1, indicating a substantial detrimental effect on mental health. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of tibial shaft fracture nonunion on physical health was comparable with the reported impact of end-stage hip arthrosis and worse than that of congestive heart failure. Tibial shaft fracture nonunion is a devastating chronic medical condition that negatively affects both physical and mental health and quality of life.
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