The Impact of Joint Replacement on Driver Function and Safety

Stephanie J. Muh, Yousef Shishani, Jonathan Streit, Carissa Ann Lucas, Vinod Sahgal, Matthew Kraay, Reuben Gobezie

Case Shoulder and Elbow Service, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleve- land, USA.
Cleveland Shoulder Institute, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, USA.
Department of Hematology/Oncology—Solid Tumor Department, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA.
Department of Orthopaedics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojo.2012.23022                

Abstract

Background: The timing of return-to-driving following total joint replacement has not been well-defined. The primary aim is to study the impact of joint replacement on driver safety. A secondary aim is to investigate the possible predictors for increased car accidents in patients undergoing total joint replacement surgery. This data will provide the background to support further prospective studies on the relationship of driver safety to joint replacement surgery. Methods: A retrospective analysis of driver safety in the postoperative period was performed by analyzing the self-reporting of 485 patients who had undergone a Total Hip Arthroplasty (n = 196), Total Knee Arthroplasty (n = 258) or Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (n = 31). The mean age was 70 (28 - 88) with 164 male (34%) and 319 female (66%). Patients were mailed a questionnaire and the responses were analyzed to determine what factors affect driving after joint replacement. Results: Overall, increased patient age and gender were associated with increased accidents following surgery. Our subgroup analysis demonstrated that in patients undergoing TSA, increased patient age was associated with increased accidents. TKA patients showed that older patient age predicted increased accidents following surgery. Conclusions: While age and gender are correlated with increased accidents after joint replacement in general, no factors specific to joint replacement surgery are related to increased incidence of accidents.

Keywords

Total Hip Arthroplasty; Total Knee Arthroplasty; Total Shoulder Arthroplasty; Driving; Driver Safety; Traffic Accidents

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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