Lower limb trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder: a single UK trauma unit's experience

The incidence and factors influencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in victims of severe lower extremity injuries are largely unknown. We studied a cohort of patients treated in a specialist centre to try and elucidate these unknowns.

The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Scale (PCL-S) was used as a reliable and reproducible patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) assessing all patients for PTSD. Sixty patients were included in the study. This was a prospective analysis of the progression of the PCL-S scores. The data were analysed using a non-parametric Wilcoxon test.

Sixty patients were recruited into the study cohort. We found that the incidence in this cohort of PTSD was 30%. We found that age had an influence on outcome. Those who were 50 years old or over had a significantly lower incidence of PTSD according to the PCL-S scores and appeared to recover from it significantly more effectively.

Up to a third of patients suffering from a severe lower extremity injury will develop PTSD. Patients of the younger age group are more severely affected and will need psychological support to overcome their distress.