The Mobility Toolkit: Electronically Augmented Assessment of Functional Recovery Following Lower-extremity Trauma

The Mobility Toolkit: Electronically Augmented Assessment of Functional Recovery Following Lower-extremity Trauma

The study will prospectively enroll and follow 300 participants ages 18-60 surgically treated for a lower-extremity articular injury including fractures of the tibial plateau, pilon, ankle, and calcaneus.

The study will prospectively enroll and follow 300 participants ages 18-60 surgically treated for a lower-extremity articular injury including fractures of the tibial plateau, pilon, ankle, and calcaneus. All participating centers will undergo training to implement the Mobility Toolkit (MTK). Research Staff will facilitate a series of performance tests while participants wear the MTK device. MTK assessment will also be conducted on 150 non-injured adults matched to the injured cohort on age and gender. These individuals will be enrolled and assessed once at two participating centers. Study flow and data capture are summarized in the figure on the next page.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18-60 years of age
2. Open or closed fractures of the tibial plateau, pilon, ankle or calcaneus requiring surgical fixation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Gustilo type IIIB or IIIC injuries
2. No other surgically or non-surgically treated injuries that impact gait (e.g. upper extremity injury proximal to the elbow; spinal cord injury; contralateral or ipsilateral fractures).
3. Neurologic impairment or deficit that impairs gait
4. Prior injuries or conditions that alter gait (e.g. severe osteoarthritis)
5. Severe problems with maintaining follow-up (e.g. participants who are prisoners, who are intellectually challenged without adequate family support, or have documented psychiatric disorders).
6. Unable to provide informed consent in English or Spanish.