Instagram and Pilon Fractures: An Analysis of Social Media and its Relationship to Patient Injury Perception

CATEGORY: Ankle; Ankle Arthritis; Trauma INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Patients have begun to utilize social media networking sites to discuss their individual experiences with medical care. Social media as an adjunct tool to measure patient satisfaction, progress, and long-term rehabilitation after orthopaedic procedures may hold future promise. The purpose of this study was to investigate social media posts regarding pilon fractures and their relationship to patient injury perception. METHODS: We evaluated Instagram media posts in patients who have suffered pilon fractures for the following variables: gender, tone, discussion of rehabilitation, activities of daily living (ADL) reference, incision/scar reference, pain, post of radiograph/imaging, external fixation reference, discussion of bracing/splinting, pre or post-operative swelling, and need for reoperation. In total, 241 patient posts were included for investigation and analysis of patient injury perception via social media. RESULTS: Of all included posts, 88% of posts had a positive tone. A majority of the posts (66.8%) mentioned rehabilitation and post-operative progress. There were significant associations between positive tone and rehabilitation (p=0.0001), as well as positive tone and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) (p=0.0361). CONCLUSION: Outcomes after surgical management of pilon fractures are generally poor. Nonetheless, this analysis of patients sharing their experience on social media after ORIF of pilon fractures demonstrates a mostly positive attitude toward the injury and recovery. A positive tone of the post was significantly associated with mentions of rehabilitation and ADLs.