Factors affecting functional outcome of Sichuan-earthquake survivors with tibial shaft fractures: a follow-up study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse the various factors affecting functional recovery of earthquake survivors with tibial shaft fractures in Sichuan, China, and to provide a clinical reference for the future management of people injured in earthquakes. METHODS: A total of 174 earthquake survivors with tibial shaft fractures were investigated using a face-to-face survey 15 months after the earthquake. Functional recovery after fracture was evaluated by Johner-Wruhs' criteria. Thirteen of the parameters that may influence functional recovery after fracture were included. Univariate and multiple stepwise logistic regression analyses were employed. RESULTS: Functional recovery was positively associated with rehabilitation intervention (odds ratio 5.3 (95% confidence interval 2.38-11.67)), but negatively correlated with the immobilization duration (odds ratio (per 10 days increase) 0.87 (95% confidence interval 0.798-0.947)), age (odds ratio (per 10 years increase) 0.54 (95% confidence interval 0.418-0.707)) and depressive symptomatology (odds ratio 0.21 (95% confidence interval 0.063-0.716)). CONCLUSION: Functional recovery of post-earthquake survivors with tibial shaft fractures is related mainly to availability of rehabilitation intervention, duration of immobilization, post-earthquake depressive symptomatology, and age. These results may support the future development of strategies for optimizing functional recovery of survivors with lower limb fracture after massive natural disasters.