Evaluation of the functional result and quality of life after orthopedic surgery

Little is known about the clinical consequences of psychological morbidity associated with orthopedic trauma about oral cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the extent of psychological symptoms that patients experience following orthopedic trauma and whether these are associated with quality of life. All oral cancer patients attending orthopedic clinics at Chungshan Medical University hospital between November 2010 and November 2011 were screened for study eligibility. All consenting patients completed a baseline assessment form, the SCL-90-R depression and somatization subscores. In addition, we conducted regression analyses to determine predictors of quality of life among oral cancer patients. The proposed model predicted 54.6% of the variance in patients' SF-36 Mental Component scores. Patient physical component summary scores were associated with older age (β = 0.308, P =0.006), state of education (β = 0.308, P = 0.006), smoking habit (β = -0.249, P = 0.048), surgical management (β = 0.193, P = 0.048) and Positive Symptom Distress Index (i.e., the intensity of psychological symptoms; β= -0.782, P = 0.022). In addition, the proposed model predicted 47.4% of the variance in patients' SF-36 Physical component scores. Patient mental component summary scores were associated with somatization (β = -0.354, P = 0.002), Anxiety (β = 0.654, P = 0.022), Hostility (β = -0.375, P = 0.048), Psychoticism (β = -0.5, P = 0.031). Psychological symptoms were significantly associated with both SF-36 Physical Component and SCL- 90-R scores. Future research is necessary to determine whether oral cancer patients would benefit from early screening and intervention to address comorbid psychopathology.