Philippine Orthopedic Center Research Board
Psychosocial Impact of Prolonged Skeletal Traction of Lower Extremity Fractures in a Philippine Specialty Tertiary Government Hospital
Gayle Krystle A. Grey, MD, and Ser Anthony B. Si, MD
Published, Philippine Journal of Orthopaedics Vol. 38 No. 1 November 2023, Official Publication of Philippine Orthopaedic Association, Inc.
Paper Poster Presentation: Mayo Clinic x Philippine Orthopedic Center - Orthopedic Humanitarian Initiatives Collaboratory Explorations 2023, June 12, 2023
Free Paper Presentation: Congress of the Asia Pacific Association (APOA) Virtual Meeting, November 22-24, 2022
2nd place, Podium Presentation: 26th POC Residents’ Research Forum, Philippine Orthopedic Center, August 12, 2022
Date of Completion: March 2022
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Skeletal traction remains a preliminary treatment in the management of lower extremity fractures in a Philippine tertiary orthopedic hospital. Patients are likely to develop depression and anxiety that impact subsequent surgical outcomes and quality of life. We aimed to identify independent variables related to depressive or anxiety symptoms while on skeletal traction, establish the association between depression and anxiety and duration of skeletal traction, and determine the association of demographic variables to depression and anxiety in patients who were treated with skeletal traction before surgery. We administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – Pilipino (HADS-P) before admission and application of skeletal traction, and one day prior to definitive surgery. The analysis included 54 adult patients without prior psychiatric diagnoses and medications. Logistic regression analysis revealed an increase in depressive and anxiety symptoms among the population. The incidence of these symptoms did not have a significant relationship to the number of days they were in traction nor with the studied patient demographics.