Prevalence and Characteristics of Kinesiophobia Among Postoperative Extremity Fracture Patients: A Descriptive Study at a Referral Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Patient complaints after extremity fracture surgical procedures can lead to pain and an irrational fear of movement (Kinesiophobia) is a highly prevalent yet frequently unrecognized psychological complication in orthopedic nursing practice

Aim: This study aimed to describe the profile of kinesiophobia in postoperative extremity fracture patients according to demographic and clinical characteristics

Method: A quantitative descriptive design with a cross-sectional approach was applied to 51 respondents recruited via total sampling in the surgical inpatient ward hospital in Jember. Kinesiophobia was measured using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-17), with a score ≥ 37 classified as high kinesiophobia. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and presented through descriptive cross-tabulation.

Result: Results demonstrated that 72.5% of respondents experienced high kinesiophobia. The highest proportions were observed in female respondents (100%), oldest-old patients (100%), homemakers (100%), primary school graduates (100%), radius fractures (100%), and femur fractures (84.6%). Groups with dominant low kinesiophobia included males (43.7%), unemployed respondents (58.3%), and ulna fractures (80.0%).

Conclusion: These findings underscore the necessity of routine TSK-17 screening and prioritized non-pharmacological interventions targeting female, elderly, and lower extremity fracture patients in postoperative orthopedic nursing care.