[Quality of life after foot injuries].

OBJECTIVE

Assessment of quality of life after foot injuries.

METHODS

All patients with foot injuries treated operatively from July 1995 to December 1999 were asked to complete the SF-36 health survey. Values of four subgroups (male with foot injuries without any other injury, multiple injured male with foot injuries, male without any other injury and both calcaneus fractures or other injuries) were compared with the standardized German population (Mann-Whitney-U-Test, alpha = 0.05).

RESULTS

110 of 201 patients completed the questionnaire (follow-up 54.7 %). Values of most of the subscales showed significant differences in comparison with the standardized population for three of four groups. Men with calcaneus fractures revealed the highest disabilities especially for the pain subscale. Quality of life in multiple injured patients is dominantly influenced by foot injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

Foot injuries cause a strong limitation of quality of life. The SF-36 health survey provides a very suitable outcome measurement for foot injuries.