Outcomes of motor vehicle crashes with fracture: a pilot study of early rehabilitation
interventions
Sammanfattning
Aim: To determine the effects of early rehabilitation interventions on the physical, psychological
and vocational outcomes of patients presenting to the Emergency Department with fracture resulting
from a motor vehicle crash.
Method: Prospective non-randomized cohort controlled trial. Seventy-six subjects were enrolled and
formed 2 groups. The control group received usual care, and the intervention group received a
consultation with a rehabilitation physician and was offered pain management, physiotherapy,
psychological treatment and further specialist referrals if indicated. The battery of outcome measures
covering pain, psychological assessment, return to work and return to driving was performed at the
same time intervals for both cohorts.
RESULTS: Significant (p < 0.05) improvement was seen in pain levels at 12 weeks in the intervention
group compared to control group. The intervention group showed a significantly better rate of return to
normal work compared to the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: Early proactive rehabilitation can benefit patients with fractures resulting from motor
vehicle crashes. This pilot study suggests the need for further investigation of the recovery from
fractures among such patients.