Abstract
Background
Despite frequent complaints by orthopaedic trauma patients, to our knowledge there
is no data regarding weather’s effect on pain and function following acute and chronic
fracture. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of daily weather conditions
on patient reported pain and functional status.
Methods
We retrospectively examined prospectively collected data from 2369 separate outpatient
visits of patients recovering from operative management of acute tibial plateau fractures,
acute distal radius fractures, and chronic fracture nonunions. Pain and functional
status were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the DASH and SMFA functional
indexes. For each visit date, the mean temperature, difference between mean temperature
and expected temperature, dew point, mean humidity, amount of rain, amount of snow,
and barometric pressure were recorded. Statistical analysis was run to search for
associations between weather data and patient reported pain and function.
Results
Low barometric pressure was associated with increased pain across all patient visits
(p = 0.007) and for patients at 1-year follow-up only (p = 0.005). At 1-year follow-up, high temperature (p = 0.021) and high humidity (p = 0.030) were also associated with increased pain. No significant association was noted
between weather data and patient reported functional status at any follow-up interval.
Conclusions
Patient complaints of weather influencing pain after orthopaedic trauma are valid.
While pain in the immediate postoperative period is most likely dominated by incisional
and soft tissue injuries, as time progresses barometric pressure, temperature, and
humidity impact patient pain levels. Affirming and counseling that pain may vary based
on changing weather conditions can help manage patient expectations and improve satisfaction.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 01, 2016
Accepted:
May 29,
2016
Received:
March 9,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
