TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring patient experiences after treatment of humeral shaft fractures

T2 - A qualitative study

AU - Karimi, Dennis

AU - Houkjær, Line

AU - Skive, Anders

AU - Holmenlund, Camilla

AU - Brorson, Stig

AU - Viberg, Bjarke

AU - Abrahamsen, Charlotte

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Introduction: Humeral shaft fracture treatment can induce serious morbidities, and it is unclear how these morbidities impact patients. To gain in-depth knowledge, we explored how patients experience humeral shaft fractures and the subsequent treatment course. Method: A qualitative study was performed using semi-structured individual interviews. A purposive sampling approach was conducted to recruit patients with traumatic isolated humeral shaft fractures; the patients’ ages, genders, primary treatments, and complications varied. Data saturation was met after the data of 12 patients were analyzed using Malterud Systematic Text Condensation. Results: Eight women and four men with a median age of 48.5 years (range: 22–83 years) were interviewed. The median time from injury to interview was 12.5 months (range: 8–18 months). Ten out of twelve patients were treated non-surgically; of those ten, four patients experienced major complications from the primary treatment. During the analysis, five overarching themes appeared: expectations, physical changes, support and independence, psychological impact, and the specific treatment and recovery. Conclusion: First, patients with humeral shaft fractures expressed frustration with treatment in the emergency department. Second, gross fracture movement and pain were central symptoms that led to the loss of basic capabilities. Third, patient preferences were included in the treatment decision-making process and could change throughout the treatment course. Fourth, patients required massive support to perform basic activities of daily living.

AB - Introduction: Humeral shaft fracture treatment can induce serious morbidities, and it is unclear how these morbidities impact patients. To gain in-depth knowledge, we explored how patients experience humeral shaft fractures and the subsequent treatment course. Method: A qualitative study was performed using semi-structured individual interviews. A purposive sampling approach was conducted to recruit patients with traumatic isolated humeral shaft fractures; the patients’ ages, genders, primary treatments, and complications varied. Data saturation was met after the data of 12 patients were analyzed using Malterud Systematic Text Condensation. Results: Eight women and four men with a median age of 48.5 years (range: 22–83 years) were interviewed. The median time from injury to interview was 12.5 months (range: 8–18 months). Ten out of twelve patients were treated non-surgically; of those ten, four patients experienced major complications from the primary treatment. During the analysis, five overarching themes appeared: expectations, physical changes, support and independence, psychological impact, and the specific treatment and recovery. Conclusion: First, patients with humeral shaft fractures expressed frustration with treatment in the emergency department. Second, gross fracture movement and pain were central symptoms that led to the loss of basic capabilities. Third, patient preferences were included in the treatment decision-making process and could change throughout the treatment course. Fourth, patients required massive support to perform basic activities of daily living.

KW - Fracture treatment

KW - Humeral shaft fracture

KW - Interview

KW - Patient perspectives

KW - Qualitative research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85135513813&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijotn.2022.100957

DO - 10.1016/j.ijotn.2022.100957

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35921741

AN - SCOPUS:85135513813

VL - 46

JO - International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing

JF - International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing

SN - 1878-1241

M1 - 100957

ER -