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Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Joints 2018; 06(04): 232-240
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678562
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Driving after Upper or Lower Extremity Orthopaedic Surgery

James S. MacKenzie
1   Division of Shoulder Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
,
Alexander M. Bitzer
1   Division of Shoulder Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
,
Filippo Familiari
2   Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Villa del Sole Clinic, Catanzaro, Italy
,
Rocco Papalia
3   Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
,
Edward G. McFarland
1   Division of Shoulder Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
› Author Affiliations
Funding None.
Further Information

Publication History

15 November 2018

26 December 2018

Publication Date:
01 February 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Orthopaedic procedures can affect patients' ability to perform activities of daily living, such as driving automobiles or other vehicles that require coordinated use of the upper and lower extremities. Many variables affect the time needed before a patient can drive competently after undergoing orthopaedic surgery to the extremities. These variables include whether the patient underwent upper or lower extremity surgery, the country in which the patient resides, whether the right or left lower extremity is involved, whether the dominant arm is involved, whether the extremity is in a cast or brace, whether the patient has adequate strength to control the steering wheel, and whether the patient is taking pain medication. The type and complexity of the procedure also influence the speed of return of driving ability. Few studies provide definitive data on driving ability after upper or lower extremity surgery. Patients should be counseled not to drive until they can control the steering wheel and the pedals competently and can drive well enough to prevent further harm to themselves or to others. This review discusses the limited recommendations in the literature regarding driving motorized vehicles after upper or lower extremity orthopaedic surgery.

Keywords

driving - lower extremity - motorized vehicle - orthopaedic surgery - upper extremity