Functional Disability at 3 Months in Patients with Residual Limb Swelling after Snakebite Envenoming.

Abstract

Limited data indicate that snakebite survivors have persistent musculoskeletal disability. We assessed the pain and functional disability at hospital discharge and after 3 months in 47 patients treated for snakebite envenoming and with at least a specified amount of local swelling at the time of hospital discharge, using the numerical pain rating scale and the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). Russell's viper was the most common biting snake species identified. At hospital discharge, the median pain score was 2 (0-3); 9 (19%) patients reported mild persisting pain at 3 months. The median PSFS score at hospital discharge was 3.7 (3.3-4.0), which improved to 8.3 (6.3-9.0) on follow-up (P <0.001); 32 (68%) patients had a PSFS score of 8.9 or below on follow-up. We conclude that snakebite envenoming could be associated with persisting functional disability at 3 months even in the absence of local complications such as skin necrosis and compartment syndrome.