[Ability to drive after surgery and trauma to the lower limb : When can I drive again?]

The ability to drive after lower limb injuries or operations is usually temporarily impaired. Before deciding when a patient can safely drive again, legal, medical and safety-related issues must be clarified.

The current literature was reviewed and summarized.

The study situation is heterogeneous; often only individual aspects of the complex ability to drive a car are examined. Many factors have an influence on this, including the type of injury or operation, the affected limb, the use of aids, immobilization or the use of painkillers and central medication.

It is, therefore, important that doctors inform and advise affected patients individually, with the patient ultimately taking responsibility for the decision. The information provided by the doctor and any recommendations given on how to return to driving safely must be documented in the medical records. Missed or undocumented information can have legal consequences, for example in the event of an accident. In cases of doubt or for professional drivers, a formal driving test may be required. In the case of permanent restrictions, a traffic medical assessment is required. The driving license authority decides whether and when this is necessary.

The patient must ensure that they are sufficiently functionally recovered to be able to control the vehicle without being restricted by pain or medication. Our recommendations, based on an extensive literature review, support orthopaedic and trauma surgeons in advising their patients, who ultimately have to make the decision to drive again independently.