Abstract
Fractures of the distal tibia are potentially devastating injuries fraught with many
complications and poor outcomes, including financial hardships. The purpose of this
study was to examine the financial outcomes in the short term of pilon fractures.
Sixty patients who sustained pilon fractures were prospectively assessed on financial
criteria and injury characteristics. This included various scores and also introduced
a financial data sheet and outcome form. Twenty-five patients met inclusion/exclusion
criteria and were available for follow-up. The mean age was 46.3 ± 12.0 years (19–61
years), with a mean follow-up of 11.8 ± 4.8 months (6–20 months). Only 7 patients
(29.2%) returned to work at latest follow-up. Seven of 19 patients (36.8%) reported
selling possessions to meet financial obligations, and 8 of 19 patients (42.1%) used
social assistance programs. All 4 white-collar workers returned to work whereas only
3 (14.3%) of 21 blue-collar workers had returned to work at last follow-up (P = .001). Five (62.5%) of 8 patients who had graduated from college returned to work,
but only 2 (14.3%) of 14 patients who did not attend college returned to work (P = .01). Because there are no widely used measures of financial status change in the
literature, we have introduced some in this article including preinjury financial
preparedness and postinjury strategies to fulfill financial obligations. These may
be useful in evaluating outcomes and counseling patients. In addition, we have again
demonstrated that there is a significantly higher return to work outcome in white
collar jobs and higher education.
Level of Clinical Evidence
Keywords
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Article info
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
Conflicts of Interest Disclosure: None reported.
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
