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Decreased QOL and muscle strength are persistent 1 year after intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture: a prospective 1-year follow-up cohort study

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

To evaluate the development in patient-reported quality of life (QOL) and muscle strength in the period from surgery to 12 months postoperatively after intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture.

Materials and methods

The design was a prospective, follow-up cohort study. QOL was measured with the questionnaire Eq5D-5L and compared to norm data from a reference population. Recordings of pain and contralateral muscle strength (isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for knee flexion and extension were collected at 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Ipsilateral MVCs were recorded at 6 and 12 months.

Results

Forty-nine patients were included. The mean age at the time of fracture was 43.1 years (18–79 years). Twelve months postoperatively, the mean Eq5D-5L index was 0.792 (95 % CI 0.747–0.837). Throughout the 12 months postoperatively, patients reported worse QOL compared to the reference population. Six and 12 months after surgery patients demonstrated decreased muscle strength in the injured leg compared to the non-injured leg for knee extension and flexion (P < 0.001). Twelve months postoperatively, increasing relative difference in muscle strength during knee extension show a fair correlation to worse QOL (R = 0.541, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Throughout the 12 months postoperatively, patients reported worse QOL compared to the reference population. Muscle strength in the non-injured leg improved over time and was higher after 6 and 12 months compared with the injured leg.

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Acknowledgments

The Department of Orthopedic surgery and the Department of Occupational and Physiotherapy Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark were acknowledged for proving unrestricted Grants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Aalborg University Hospital, 18-22 Hobrovej, 9000, Aalborg, Denmark

    Peter Larsen

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

    Rasmus Elsoe, Christian Berre Eriksen & Sten Rasmussen

  3. Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Uffe Laessoe & Thomas Graven-Nielsen

  4. Physiotherapy Department, University College North Denmark (UCN), Aalborg, Denmark

    Uffe Laessoe

  5. Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Sten Rasmussen

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  1. Peter Larsen
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  4. Thomas Graven-Nielsen
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Correspondence to Peter Larsen.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors did not receive benefits or grants in any form from a commercial part related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article. Thomas Graven-Nielsen is a part of Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP) which is supported by the Danish National Research Foundation (DNRF121).

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Larsen, P., Elsoe, R., Laessoe, U. et al. Decreased QOL and muscle strength are persistent 1 year after intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture: a prospective 1-year follow-up cohort study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 136, 1395–1402 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-016-2537-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-016-2537-2

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