Driving with a forearm plaster cast: patients' perspective

Edwards, Myles; Oliver, Melody; Hatrick, N. C.

doi:10.1136/emj.2008.062943

Cited by 16 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…2 In Australia, up to 50% of adults immobilised in a plaster cast continue to drive despite medical advice to the contrary. 8 Individualised advice based on evidencebased medicine is needed, but the current evidence available is insufficient. [2][3][4][5]10,11 This study had a number of limitations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Driving with a Short Arm Cast in a Simulator

Mansour

Kenny

et al. 2015

J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong)

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Purpose. To test the ability to steer in a driving simulator in subjects with a short arm cast. Methods. 17 men and 13 women aged 23 to 67 (mean, 37) years who had a valid driver's licence were randomised to the cast-first group (n=16; 7 had the cast on the dominant arm) or the cast-second group (n=14; 8 had the cast on the dominant arm) and drove in a simulator. A short arm plaster-of-Paris cast was applied in a neutral position, allowing free movement of the metacarpophalangeal joints, thumb, and elbow joint. Outcome measures included the number of driving off track instances, the number of crashes, the lap time, and the effect of hand dominance on these parameters. Subjects were asked whether the cast had impeded their steering ability. Results. Subjects with or without a cast were comparable in terms of the number of driving off track instances, number of crashes, and lap time. Compared with no cast, the odds ratio (OR) of a subject in a cast driving off the track was 1.02Driving with a short arm cast in a simulator

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Driving with a Short Arm Cast in a Simulator

Mansour

Kenny

et al. 2015

J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong)

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“…The east coast Australian study by Kalamaras et al (2006) found that two-thirds of the male participants who broke their wrist drove in a cast, compared to only one-third of females. The difference in the prevalence of drivers between the Edwards et al (2009) and Kalamaris et al (2006) studies may be due to the relative geographies and the social norms in the two countries with regards to the role of driving. There is little understanding of the motivations people have for driving or not driving while their arm or wrist is in plaster and how far psycho-social factors, such as affect or risk taking, may explain some of the differences.…”

Section: Driving With the Wrist Or Hand In Plastermentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Kalamaris et al (2006) found 50% of Australian patients drove their vehicle after having their arm or wrist placed in a plaster cast. Interestingly in Edwards et al's (2009) study three of the 13 patients who were driving ceased on advice given during the project suggesting that they had not received advice prior to making their return to driving decision. Another patient stopped driving when his insurance company told him he was not insured.…”

Section: Driving With the Wrist Or Hand In Plastermentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Previous studies suggest that between 9% and 50% of people continue to drive with their arm or wrist in a cast. Edwards et al (2009) in a postal survey carried out in the UK found 9% of 144 respondents admitted to driving a car or riding a motorbike with their wrist or arm in a cast. Kennedy et al (2006) found a slightly higher percentage, with 15% of 118 surveyed patients in Ireland with upper or lower limb casts continued to drive with their arm or wrist in plaster.…”

Section: Driving With the Wrist Or Hand In Plastermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Breaking the habit: Does fracturing your wrist change your travel and driver behaviour?

Musselwhite

Calcraft

Roberts

et al. 2016

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviou

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When someone breaks their wrist it presents a disruption to everyday routine. Some of this is as a result of having to change travel patterns. This paper investigates the changes people make to their travel behaviour in the light of an unexpected change in their situation caused by fracturing their wrist and wearing a forearm plaster cast. One hundred and eleven participants, approached as they were having their plaster cast removed, completed a questionnaire addressing travel behaviour change, driver safety and information provision covering their time in a plaster cast (typically an average of 5-6 weeks). Eighteen percent of participants drove during the time they had a forearm plaster cast on. All reported they felt safe in doing so and that wearing the plaster cast did not compromise safety, though it was uncomfortable and compensatory behaviours took place. Risk and affective scales did not predict whether participants drove in a cast, suggesting that practical and utilitarian, rather than psychosocial, reasons were the motivation for driving in a plaster cast. Eightytwo percent found other ways of travelling without using their car. Participant's use of buses and trains, walking and taking lifts were all increased and overall, across all modes of transport, participants travelled fewer miles but made more journeys. There was a reduction in cycling, especially for those who drove in a cast, suggesting cyclists who broke their wrist changed to driving while their arm was in a cast. Information provision did not affect whether someone drove or not. Implications for providing travel information to help people avoid car use while their forearm is in a cast and maintaining behaviour change afterwards are discussed.

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“…Survey studies have demonstrated that the majority of patients who have a driver's license drive whilst wearing cast, regardless of whether the doctor has given them advice or not (1,2). Studies conducted on the doctors found that doctors' knowledge on this issue was very limited and non-standardised (3)(4)(5).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Driving Safe with Upper Limb Plaster Casts?

Köse¹,

Çeliktaş²,

Taş³

et al. 2013

JAEM

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Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the ability and safety of driving with commonly used upper limb casts, and to determine the effect of hand dominance. Material and Methods: Two healthy drivers, one of them right-handed and the other left-handed (confirmed with the Edinburgh handedness inventory), were selected. The vehicles used in this study were the 2006 model Volkswagen Golf with a manual-geared right-hand drive with power steering and the 2004 model Honda Civic with an automatic-geared right-hand drive with power steering. We assessed driving ability and safety whilst wearing a scaphoid cast and a Colles cast. Initially, a 20-min driving circuit was completed without immobilisation by each volunteer on a track which was closed to traffic. Six essential driving abilities, namely steering and turning, reversing, gear changing and panel control were assessed subjectively by the drivers. Each of the driving abilities was scored between 0 and 10 points. Each score acquired from the relevant section was added to obtain a total score. Scores taken from each section and the total scores were compared in terms of plaster cast type, gear option, body side and dexterity. Results: Driving scores were statistically similar regarding dexterity and gear option in total and section scores (p=0.878, p=0.442). A difference between the Colles cast and the scaphoid cast was only observed in panel control (p=0.010). Immobilisation of the left hand significantly decreased the total score (p=0.001); however, gear shifting and panel control sections were similar between body sides (p=0.105 and p=0.442, respectively). All scores obtained from each section were significantly lower compared to controlled driving (p=0.000). Conclusion: Driving with an upper limb cast is unsafe; furthermore, immobilisation of the non-dominant hand does not satisfy the necessary requirements for safe driving. We should discourage patients and warn them about the dangers of driving when wearing an upper limb plaster cast.

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Driving with a forearm plaster cast: patients' perspective

Abstract: It is recommended that all medical professionals advise their patients that they should not drive while immobilised in an upper limb plaster cast.

Cited by 16 publications

References 3 publications

Driving with a Short Arm Cast in a Simulator

Driving with a Short Arm Cast in a Simulator

Breaking the habit: Does fracturing your wrist change your travel and driver behaviour?

Is Driving Safe with Upper Limb Plaster Casts?

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