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01-07-2015 | Original Paper

Driving and emergency braking may be impaired after tibiotalar joint arthrodesis: conclusions after a case series

Authors: Stefan Schwienbacher, Emin Aghayev, Ulf Krister Hofmann, Maurice Jordan, Antongiulio Marmotti, Christoph Röder, Ingmar Ipach

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 7/2015

Abstract

Purpose

To assess whether reaction time (RT) and movement time (MT), as the two components of the total brake response time (TBRT) and brake force (BF) are different in patients with a foot joint arthrodesis in comparison to controls.

Methods

The study was a comparative case series in a driving simulator under realistic driving conditions. Mobile patients without a walker, ≥6 months after surgery who were driving a car and had no neurological co-morbidity, knee or hip joint prosthesis were included in the study. The selection criteria resulted in 12 patients with right tibiotalar joint arthrodesis (TTJA) and 12 patients with another right foot joint arthrodesis (OFJA), who were compared to 17 individuals without any ankle-joint pathology. For TBRT, an empirical safe driving threshold of 700 ms was used. The outcome measures were RT, MT, TBRT, BF and McGuire score.

Results

MT (p = 0.034) and TBRT (p = 0.026) were longer in TTJA patients in comparison with the controls. Also, more patients with TTJA than patients with OFJA and controls exceeded the safe driving threshold (p = 0.028). The outcomes in OFJA patients and in controls were comparable. The McGuire score was similar between the TTJA and OFJA patients (p = 0.26).

Conclusions

Significantly slower MT and TBRT, and significantly more patients exceeding the safe driving threshold, were observed after a tibiotalar-joint arthrodesis in comparison to the controls. Patients with OFJAs were not significantly different from the controls. Driving and emergency braking may be impaired after tibiotalar-joint arthrodesis.

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Title: Driving and emergency braking may be impaired after tibiotalar joint arthrodesis: conclusions after a case series
Authors: Stefan Schwienbacher
Emin Aghayev
Ulf Krister Hofmann
Maurice Jordan
Antongiulio Marmotti
Christoph Röder
Ingmar Ipach
Publication date: 01-07-2015
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Orthopaedics / Issue 7/2015
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-015-2789-4

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Springer Medicine

Driving and emergency braking may be impaired after tibiotalar joint arthrodesis: conclusions after a case series

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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