Abstract
Introduction : Tibia fractures are common in pediatric patients and time necessary to return to normal function may be underappreciated. The purpose of this study was to assess functional recovery in pediatric patients who sustain tibia fractures, utilizing the Pediatrics Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), in order to provide evidence-based information on post-injury functional limitations and anticipated recovery times.Methods : 84patients (out of 264 eligible patients, response rate 32%) age 1.5-18 years treated for a tibia fracture at a large children's hospital between 1/07 and 4/08 completed a PODCI questionnaire at 6 and 12 months post-injury. PODCI questionnaires were compared to previously reportednormal controls using Student's t-test in six categories.Results : At 6 months after injury, the Sports functioning PODCI score was significantly less than healthy controls in both the parent reports for adolescent (mean 88.71 versus 95.4) and adolescent self-report (mean 90.44 versus 97.1); these showed no difference at 12 months.Discussion : For adolescents who sustain fractures of the tibia, there remains a negative impact on their sports functioning after 6 months that resolves by 12 months. Physicians can counsel their patients that although they may be limited in their sports function for some time after injury, it is anticipated that this will resolve by one year from the time of injury.Level of Evidence : Level II.
Highlights
Tibia fractures are common in pediatric patients and time necessary to return to normal function may be underappreciated
The Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) is a functional health outcome measure for children and adolescents that focus on musculoskeletal health and quality of life
Eighty-four agreed to participate in the study and completed at least one (66 patients) if not both (18 patients) of the Pediatrics Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) questionnaires; this yielded a response rate of 31.8%
Summary
Tibia fractures are common in pediatric patients and time necessary to return to normal function may be underappreciated. The purpose of this study was to assess functional recovery in pediatric patients who sustain tibia fractures, utilizing the Pediatrics Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), in order to provide evidence-based information on post-injury functional limitations and anticipated recovery times. Fractures of the tibia and ankle are common in the pediatric population, accounting for approximately 15% of long-bone fractures among children and adolescents [1] Despite their incidence, the orthopedic literature contains only a few studies that have explored post-injury function utilizing patient-based outcomes for young patients who have sustained these injuries [2,3,4,5], and a few that report return to sports outcomes in adults [6, 7]. There is a scale for global functioning, which is a combination of the three function subscales and comfort
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