Pilot study assessing functional outcome of tibial pilon fractures using the VSTORM method

Area of Science:

• Traumatology
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Assessing long-term function and quality of life after major trauma is crucial but challenging.
• The Victoria State Trauma Registry (VSTORM) utilizes telephone interviews for patient-reported outcomes post-trauma.
• VSTORM employs validated instruments like the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOS-E), SF-12, and EQ-5D.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the methodology of the VSTORM telephone interview for capturing clinically relevant data in patients with severe fractures.
• To determine the feasibility and acceptability of this data collection method for assessing outcomes after major trauma.

Main Methods:

• Patients with surgically managed tibial pilon fractures were identified and contacted for a structured telephone interview.
• The VSTORM questionnaire, including GOS-E, SF-12, EQ-5D, and a pain scale, was administered.
• Ethical approval and patient consent were obtained prior to data collection.

Main Results:

• Twenty-six out of 45 eligible patients consented, with 23 successfully interviewed.
• A significant decrease in self-reported health status was observed post-injury (VAS 71.5 vs 88.9 pre-injury).
• Many patients experienced return-to-work challenges (7/18), pain interference (9/23), mobility issues (16/23), and limitations in social activities (14/23).

Conclusions:

• The VSTORM telephone interview method appears efficient and acceptable for collecting patient-reported outcomes after severe fractures.
• The data captured were clinically relevant and comparable to existing literature.
• Prospective enrollment at the time of injury is recommended to improve follow-up rates and warrants further large-scale evaluation.