Comparison of Quality of Life among Patients with Mangled Trauma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Mangled injury is defined as severe injury, including three or more tissues such as bones, nerves, vessels, muscles, and tendons in the upper or lower extremities. The choice of treatment results in different cosmetic and functional outcomes for mangled injury. In this study, we estimated patients' quality of life after treatment with the future intention of having patients make proper decisions at the time of injury. METHODS: Twenty patients were treated at Asan Medical Center from January, 2009 to November, 2011, and 11 patients were included who agreed with the questionnaire. We used 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) for estimating quality of life after treatments. RESULTS: Subjective satisfaction of cosmetic and functional aspects was higher in the reconstruction group than in the amputation group. However, in the estimation of specified satisfaction using SF-36, the amputation group was more satisfied than the reconstruction group. CONCLUSION: Among the many treatment considerations at the time of injury, expected cosmetic and functional outcomes were important parts determining the decision. In our study, the amputation group showed a better satisfaction level. This result could help patients make more appropriate decisions in the case of mangled injury.