Patient Education with Personalized 3D Ankle Fracture Models for Improved Outcomes

Complex high energy fractures of the lower extremity are life changing injuries and are known to be associated with poor functional outcome post operatively. The list of potential post-operative complications associated with these injuries is long, and the worst of these fractures can even be limb threatening. One of the most difficult and prevalent post-operative issues this patient population faces is chronic pain and its association to opioid addiction, which is currently an epidemic across North America. These individuals not only present with physical insult but psychological trauma as well, which also greatly affects these patients post-operatively. Properly educating the patient about their injury and the process that they will embark on can greatly empower the patient as they begin their journey of rehabilitation. This process can hopefully mute or silence some of these modifiable risk factors predisposing patients to poor functional outcomes and chronic pain. The investigators also hope to help them initiate/develop coping strategies to better overcome the many obstacles these patients face and to do so using 3D printing. 3D printed models have not only been demonstrated to be valuable in orthopaedics, when it comes to educating patients about their disease and associated interventions, but many other specialties as well; such as: cardiac surgery, urology, and general surgery. Literature suggest that often little is understood or retained by the patient following a patient consent with regards to their injury, potential complications, interventions to be undertaken, as well as the rehabilitation process to follow. By providing the patient with a 3D printed model of their fracture while educating them pre-/post-operatively, the investigators hope they will better understand the aforementioned, often forgotten points, indirectly yielding better overall patient satisfaction, patient outcomes and pain scores.