Importance of self-assessment in functional evaluation of trauma patients

• Published in: Der Unfallchirurg Vol. 121; no. 12; pp. 956 - 961
• Main Authors: Beirer, M, Biberthaler, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.12.2018
• Subjects: Fractures, Bone - diagnosis; Fractures, Bone - epidemiology; Humans; Range of Motion, Articular; Self-Assessment; Surveys and Questionnaires; Range of motion; Self-assessment; Questionnaire; Follow-up
• ISSN: 1433-044X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00113-018-0564-x

The principle of self-assessment is performed successfully in a wide variety of medical disciplines and is increasingly gaining importance in orthopedic trauma surgery. Through the development and validation of joint-specific self-assessment questionnaires that enable estimation of the range of motion, a large number of patient-based instruments are available for comprehensive follow-up examination. A recently performed proof of concept study showed a high patient acceptance and therefore the development of a prospective, patient-centered fracture register based on the self-assessment functional analysis seems to be promising. The data obtained should reflect not only the reality of fracture treatment but also generate valuable epidemiological data with which evidence-based guidelines can be formed.