Concomitant anxiety in posttraumatic elbow stiffness and risk factors for stiffness

Abstract

Objective To investigate the situation of concomitant anxiety in posttraumatic elbow stiffness and analyze the risk factors for posttraumatic elbow stiffness. Methods Participants for this investigation were the outpatients who had sought special medical attention for elbow injury from September to October, 2017 and from May to June, 2018 at Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. Their demographic and injury-related data (gender, age, education, injury time, injury type, treatment and rehabilitation) were collected through questionnaires. Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was used to evaluate their anxiety. The range of motion (ROM) of the elbow was measured by the same qualified orthopedist. The relationship between posttraumatic elbow stiffness and anxiety and risk factors for stiffness were analyzed statistically. Results The proportion of concomitant anxiety (39.2%) in the patients with posttraumatic elbow stiffness was significantly higher than that in those without posttraumatic elbow stiffness (10.5%, P=0.021). The SAS score for the patients with posttraumatic elbow stiffness (47.6±11.6) was significantly higher than that (38.9±8.2) for those without posttraumatic elbow stiffness (P=0.004). Passive rehabilitation was a risk factor for flexion-extension stiffness. Complex intra-articular fracture, high-energy injury and passive rehabilitation were risk factors for limited forearm rotation. Conclusions Our study suggests the comorbidity of posttraumatic elbow stiffness and anxiety. Complex intra-articular fracture, high-energy injury and passive rehabilitation are risk factors for forearm rotational stiffness after elbow trauma. Passive rehabilitation is also a predictor of less range of flexion-extension of the elbow. Key words: Elbow; Comorbidity; Anxiety; Forearm rotation