Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems Physical Function and Pain Interference Scores Are Correlated With Tibial Shaft Fracture Nonunion Following Intramedullary Nailing.

OBJECTIVES

To assess trends in Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) Physical Function (PF) and Pain Interference (PI) in surgically treated tibial shaft fracture patients progressing to union versus nonunion.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Level 1 trauma center.

PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Patients with operatively treated tibial shaft fractures (AO/OTA 42-A, B, C) using an intramedullary nail.

OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS: PROMIS PF and PI were compared between patients progressing to union and patients requiring nonunion repair.

RESULTS

A total of 234 patients (196 union, 38 nonunion) were included consisting 144 men and 90 women. The mean age of included patients was 40.8 years. A significant difference in mean PROMIS PF between union and nonunion patients was observed at 1-3 months ( P = 0.005), 3-6 months ( P < 0.001), 6-9 months ( P = 0.003), and 6-12 months ( P = 0.018). The odds of developing nonunion for every unit decrease in PROMIS PF was significant at 3-6 months (OR 1.07, P = 0.028) and 6-9 months (OR 1.17, P = 0.015). A significant difference in mean PROMIS PI between union and nonunion patients was observed at 1-3 months ( P = 0.001), 3-6 months ( P = 0.005), and 6-9 months ( P = 0.005). The odds of developing nonunion for every unit increase in PROMIS PI was significant at 1-3 months (OR 1.11, P = 0.005), 3-6 months (OR 1.10, P = 0.011), and 6-9 months (OR 1.23, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

Poorly trending PROMIS PF and PI in the clinical setting is a factor that can be used to evaluate progression to nonunion following tibial shaft repair where imaging studies may lag behind.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.