[Evaluation of driving fitness in patients with musculoskeletal disorders : A systematic review].

OBJECTIVE: Driving a motor vehicle is one of the most important aspects of personal mobility in our society. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding driving fitness after orthopedic or trauma surgery-related diseases. Aim of this systematic review was to support the treating physician to determine the individual driving fitness in patients with musculosceletal disorders.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic analysis was performed using the PubMed database. Following a predefined algorithm, all relevant articles published from 2013 to 2018 were included.

RESULTS: The results were categorized according to the affected part of the body into I. lower extremity and II. upper extremity. Also, results were subcategorized into movement restrictions caused by external joint-braces, musculoskeletal diseases, and postoperative conditions.

CONCLUSION: This article supports the treating physician to individually determine the driving fitness in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. However, only a few standardized tests exist to individually determine the driving fitness in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. A particular shortcoming was observed for impairments of the upper extremity.