Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39586920›Full record

ArticleUnfallchirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany)2025

[Doctor, when can I drive? Characterization of driving behavior of orthopedic and trauma surgery patients using a prospective questionnaire study].

Felix Lakomek, Falk Hilsmann, Erik Schiffner, Sebastian Gehrmann, Dominique Schöps, Max Prost, Joachim Windolf, David Latz

Abstract readEnglish Abstract
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Unfallchirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Felix LakomekKlinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
Falk HilsmannKlinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland. Falk.Hilsmann@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
Erik SchiffnerKlinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
Sebastian GehrmannKlinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Karl-Leisner-Klinikum Kleve, Albersallee 5, 47533, Kleve, Deutschland.
Dominique SchöpsKlinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
Max ProstKlinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
Joachim WindolfKlinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
David LatzKlinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIndividual mobility in road traffic is of high importance in Germany, both individually and socioeconomically; however, diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system in particular can lead to temporary impairments. The aim of this prospective patient survey was to record how patients assessed their driving capability during an injury and the associated immobilization and on what basis the decision on driving capability was made on the part of the patients. MATERIAL AND

methodsA systematic questionnaire was used to analyze a total of 100 patients with a diagnosis in orthopedics/trauma surgery and associated joint immobilization. In addition to personal data and the injuries/illnesses, an analysis on risk tolerance was performed and patients were asked about their knowledge regarding driving capability. Finally, it was recorded which patients drove a motor vehicle and for what reasons despite immobilization.

resultsOverall, 40.2% reported knowledge of the applicable laws regarding driving capability and 55.6% considered the treating physician to be responsible regarding the decision on driving capability. The patients who drove a motor vehicle reported higher personal and professional dependence on the motor vehicle (personal: 60.6% vs. 45.7%; professional: 48.5% vs. 36.1%). In the group of patients who drove a motor vehicle during immobilization, overall a fracture was less likely to be the reason for immobilization (33.3% vs. 51.0%).

conclusionOverall, the patient population rated their knowledge of the law as low and viewed the treating physician as having the majority of the decision-making responsibility regarding driving capability. The patients who drove a motor vehicle during immobilization reported a higher personal as well as professional dependence on driving a motor vehicle. At the same time the injury severity had an influence on the decision, so that patients with fractures were more likely to avoid driving a motor vehicle. Further studies, particularly at the biomechanical level, are needed to ensure a better basis for the physician in making decisions with respect to the driving capability of orthopedic and trauma surgery patients.

Indexed as

Accidents, TrafficAutomobile DrivingOrthopedic ProceduresWounds and InjuriesAcute Care SurgeryAdultAgedFemaleGermanyHumansImmobilizationMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSurveys and QuestionnairesDriving capabilityImpaired driving functionJoint disordersTraffic medicineTrauma surgery

Identifiers

PMID39586920
PMCPMC11735540

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.