Assessment of the Quality of Life of Patients Visiting the Emergency Department of the Saint-Brieuc Hospital Following an Ankle Sprain

Overview

Lateral ankle sprains account for nearly 6,500 emergency department visits per day in France. They are clinically classified into three grades, which can be assessed approximately 3-5 days after an acute sprain. However, this classification remains somewhat approximate, with only mild and severe sprains being reliably identified. When it comes to immobilization, if weight-bearing is possible, treatment options include an elastic ankle brace for mild sprains, taping, or a semi-rigid orthosis known as a "stabilizing" brace. It is worth noting that, according to Rodineau and Besch, the preferred form of immobilization is the semi-rigid orthosis. In cases of severe sprains where weight-bearing is not possible, rigid immobilization may be used. To date, few thesis-level studies have focused on trauma care and the outpatient follow-up of ankle sprains. Two studies from the early 2010s assessed general practice management of trauma using questionnaires-one in Seine-Maritime and another in Bouches-du-Rhône. The latter study found that 96.7% of surveyed physicians reported managing all types of sprains. In the Seine-Maritime study, half of the physicians systematically followed up on ankle sprains, while the other half only did so if the patient's condition worsened. It was also found that nearly 47% of physicians referred their patients directly to emergency departments. This pathway was more frequently chosen by urban practitioners or those without specific training in trauma care. Except in certain predefined cases depending on the hospital, there is currently no systematic follow-up for ankle sprains in emergency departments. Most patients are redirected toward follow-up in outpatient care. The objective of this research project is to assess the recovery of baseline quality of life in participants who consulted the emergency department of Saint-Brieuc for an ankle sprain, three months after the injury. The evaluation will take into account the type of follow-up care (physician, physiotherapist) as well as the severity of the sprain.

The FAAM-ADL questionnaire is a self-assessment tool and will be completed for the first time upon the participant's arrival at the emergency department. The responses will be based on the participant's recollection of their functional ability and quality of life prior to the ankle injury. A second self-assessment will be conducted at the 3-month mark, using the same FAAM-ADL scale, either by email or phone. This time, the questionnaire will focus on their current functional ability and quality of life. By comparing these two sets of responses, it will be possible to evaluate the degree of recovery three months after the ankle sprain, relative to their pre-injury baseline. The severity grade of the sprain will be determined based on the clinical data recorded by the physician during the initial emergency consultation, following review of the medical records by the coordinating investigator.