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Published on: September 18, 2012
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Driving with a short arm cast in a simulator.
Damian Mansour1, Kristin Gotaas Mansour2, Benjamin William Kenny1
1Department of Orthopaedics, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia.
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery (Hong Kong)
|December 31, 2015
Summary
Driving with a short arm cast did not significantly impair steering ability in a driving simulator. Participants reported perceived impedance, but objective measures showed comparable performance to driving without a cast.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Traffic Safety
Background:
- Short arm casts are commonly prescribed for upper extremity fractures.
- The impact of immobilization devices on functional abilities, such as driving, requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of a short arm cast on steering performance in a driving simulator.
- To determine if hand dominance influences steering ability with a cast.
Main Methods:
- Thirty participants with a valid driver's license were randomized into cast-first or cast-second groups.
- A short arm plaster-of-Paris cast was applied, allowing free movement of joints.
- Steering ability was assessed via driving off-track instances, crashes, lap times, and subjective feedback.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in driving off-track instances, crashes, or lap times was observed between driving with and without a cast.
- Subjects were more likely to drive off-track during the first lap.
- Hand dominance did not significantly affect steering performance with a cast.
- 26 out of 30 participants perceived that the cast impeded their steering.
Conclusions:
- A short arm cast does not significantly impair objective steering ability in a driving simulator.
- Subjective perception of impairment may not correlate with objective performance deficits.
