OA2079. Feasibility of fitness to drive assessment using a driving simulator after orthopaedic trauma

Abstract Background Traffic incidents are a leading cause of death worldwide, yet driving is essential for daily life and work. Orthopedic patients have impaired driving fitness. Thus, doctors must impose driving bans, but standardised tests are lacking. Methods Patients and professional drivers participated. The driving simulator had a four-screen setup; three with a traffic view, and a fourth speed. All participants drove the same standardised route with a random turn right/left on command and brake on show of stop sign scenario. Performance was extracted on brake length and reaction time. Professional drivers completed the track twice on the same day as a measure of reliability. Simulator sickness was measured from 0 (no sign) to 4 (severe) using two items from the Rivermead Post-Concussion (nausea and dizziness). Transferability to real driving (yes/no) was measured using a questionnaire. Results are given in medians and 10-90 deciles and percents. Results In total, 148 persons (56 patients and 92 professional drivers) participated. The mean age was 50 years (SD 17); 30% were women and mean driving experience was 30 years (SD 17). Brake length: Patients 38 meters (28-50), drivers 33 meters (25-41). Brake reaction distance: patients 15 meters (9-32), drivers 10 meters (7-16). Test-retest: brake length .6 meter (-8-11) and brake reaction distance 1 meter (-1, 8). Three persons experienced moderate or severe dizziness (one patient and two drivers). Two drivers had moderate nausea. All patients found the simulator driving as comparable to real-world driving, whereas for drivers it was 64%. Conclusions This study indicates that the driving simulator and simulated event were a feasible test of patients’ fitness to drive in the outpatient department on the day of brace removal. Simulator sickness was rare (dizziness 2% and nausea 1%), and transferability to real-world driving was high. The next step is a simulated validated driving exam and development of a statistical model capable of classifying fitness to drive. Key messages • Following trauma patients wish to take up car driving quickly. With an individual test of driving ability we may guide each one in an objective way. First development shows this is feasible • The setup of a driving simulator is complicated and requires medical and technical Topic Driving ability, patient testing, driving simulator.