Abstract
Objective: To compare the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment Dysfunction Index (SMFA DI) and the Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary (SF-36 PCS) scores among patients undergoing operative management of tibial fractures. Study Design and Setting: Between July 2000 and September 2005, we enrolled 1,319 skeletally mature patients with open or closed fractures of the tibial shaft that were managed with intramedullary nailing. Patients were asked to complete the SMFA Questionnaire and SF-36 at discharge and 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgical fixation. Results: The SMFA DI and SF-36 PCS scores were highly correlated at 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgical fixation. The difference in the mean standardized change scores for SMFA DI and SF-36 PCS, from 3 to 12 months post-surgical fixation, was not statistically significant. Both the SMFA DI and SF-36 PCS scores were able to discriminate between healed and nonhealed tibial fractures at 3, 6, and 12 months postsurgery. Conclusion: In patients with tibial-shaft fractures, the SMFA DI offered no significant advantages over the SF-36 PCS score. These results, along with the usefulness of SF-36 for comparing populations, recommend the SF-36 for assessing physical function in studies of patients with tibial fractures.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1210-1217 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Epidemiology |
Volume | 62 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2009 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Funding: This study was funded by Research Grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research # MCT-38140 (PI: G. Guyatt), National Institutes of Health NIAMS-072; R01 AR48529 (PI: M. Swiontkowski), Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons [PI: P. Tornetta III], Orthopaedic Trauma Association [PI: M. Bhandari]). Smaller site-specific grants were also obtained from Hamilton Health Sciences Research Grant (PI: M. Bhandari) and Zimmer (PI: M. Bhandari). No funds were received for the preparation of this manuscript. Dr. Jason W. Busse is funded by a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation. Dr. Mohit Bhandari is supported, in part, by a Canada Research Chair, McMaster University.
Keywords
- Fracture
- Quality of life
- Randomized controlled trial
- Short Form-36
- Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment Questionnaire
- Tibia