Aims. The aim of this study was to explore the patients’ experience
of recovery from open fracture of the lower limb in acute care. Patients and Methods. A purposeful sample of 20 participants with a mean age of 40
years (20 to 82) (16 males, four females) were interviewed a mean
of 12 days (five to 35) after their first surgical intervention took
place between July 2012 and July 2013 in two National Health Service
(NHS) trusts in England, United Kingdom. The qualitative interviews
drew on phenomenology and analysis identified codes, which were
drawn together into categories and themes. Results. The findings identify the vulnerability of the patients expressed
through three themes; being emotionally fragile, being injured and
living with injury. The participants felt a closeness to death and
continued uncertainty regarding loss of their limb. They experienced strong
emotions while also trying to contain their emotions for the benefit
of others. Their sense of self changed as they became a person with
visible wounds, needed intimate help, and endured pain. When ready,
they imagined what it would be like to live with injury. Conclusion.
The aim of this study was to determine the trajectory of recovery following fixation of tibial plateau fractures up to five-year follow-up, including simple (Schatzker I-IV) Patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for tibial plateau fractures were enrolled into a prospective database. Functional outcome, using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Physical Component Summary (SF-36 PCS), was collected at baseline, six months, one year, and five years. The trajectory of recovery for complex fractures (Schatzker V and VI) was compared with simple fractures (Schatzker I to IV). Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was calculated between timepoints. In all, 182 patients were enrolled: 136 (74.7%) in simple and 46 (25.3%) in complex. There were 103 female patients and 79 male patients with a mean age of 45.8 years (15 to 86).Aims
Patients and Methods
