Using a Frame Means the Patient Can Weightbear Straight Away; Gospel?

Description

This VTT document features a presentation by Andy Craig discussing findings on post-operative weightbearing strategies from a study conducted in East Yorkshire. The speaker acknowledges the common assumption that the use of frames can facilitate immediate weightbearing upon surgery, and emphasizes the importance of patient education regarding their weightbearing capabilities and treatment options following surgery.



Key insights from the presentation include:

- The guidance from the GMC on patient consent, emphasizing informed decision-making involving all relevant treatment options, even if it requires transfer to another unit.

- The complexities surrounding the interpretation and communication of "weightbearing" status, particularly the challenges in understanding partial weightbearing and its variances among patients and clinicians.

- Data from the study indicate an average of around 28 days for patients to achieve full weightbearing with crutches post-framework application, and approximately 230 days to reach full weightbearing without aids, showcasing a significant variability in recovery.

- Analysis revealed no significant differences in time to full weightbearing based on injury types, though caveats about the small group sizes are noted.

- The final remarks underscore that even if immediate weightbearing might be biomechanically possible, various patient factors such as pain and soft tissue injuries need to be accounted for.

- A call for more extensive studies is made to validate the observations presented.

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