Modern surgical techniques and consequential reduced mortality require reliable and practical instruments to evaluate quality of life in trauma patients, because the influence of surgical treatment on patients’ daily life is still unknown. The purpose of the multi-center-study was a) to analyze quality of life in 221 patients after treatment of an isolated open tibial fracture by using the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP); b) to check the reliability of the German NHP version (Cronbachs Alpha) and c) to evaluate the relation between the NHP scales and the surgical classification of the initial soft-tissue-trauma by Gustilo. The investigated patients experienced primarily impairments in their personal quality of life due to “pain” and reduced “physical mobility”. These subjective impairments increased according to the severity of the open fracture. Reliability testing of the NHP scales presented alpha-values from 0,60 to 0,84. Patients with an open tibial fracture classified as Gustilo I or II showed less impairments in quality of life than patients classified as Gustilo III. The findings indicate, that quality of life in patients after treatment of open tibial fractures is impaired due to pain and consequential reduced mobility. Primarily patients with open fractures type III present reduced quality of life. Additionally, the results show the usefulness of the German NHP version to evaluate quality of life also in trauma patients.
Learning Objectives: N/A.
Keywords: Quality of Life, Evaluation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.