2016 OTA Annual Meeting: Change in health-related quality of life following operative management of open fractures

2447 patients with an open fracture of the extremities were randomized in a 2x3 factorial design to undergo fluid lavage with either a soap or saline solution at either very low pressure (1-2 psi), low pressure (5-10 psi), of high pressure (>20 psi). The purpose of this secondary analysis was to evaluate and compare health-related quality of life and function between groups after 1-year. The Short Form 12-Item Physical and Mental Component Scores (SF-12 PCS and MCS), and the EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire were used. No significant differences in these measures at 1-year were found between groups treated with either soap or saline, or different irrigation pressures. Both the SF-12 PCS and EQ-5D demonstrated clinically relevant decreases from pre-injury after 12 months among all patients.