Article

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.

Langue : ANGLAIS