this study designed to determine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among patients visited following an orthopedic traumatic injury and to identify changes in vital signs and demographic variables associated with the disorder.

In a descriptive study with ex-post-facto design, one hundred patients admitted to outpatient orthopedic clinic in ImamReza Hospital (Mashhad, IRAN) who had the study criteria were included. Upon admission, demographic information, pain intensity, pulse rate, blood pressure were assessed and General Health Questionnaire-28 was filled. Then symptoms of PTSD were evaluated after one and three months follow up based on DSM-IV criteria. Finally the initial data from the patients developing PTSD after one and three months were compared with those without the disease.

After one month, 5 patients (8.3%) and after three months 6 patients (12.8%) had complete PTSD criteria and 10 patients (16.7%) after one month and 6 patients (12.8%) after three months developed subsyndromal PTSD. Presence of high pulse rate (P=0.000), high intensity of the tolerated pain (p=0.000), more somatization symptoms (p=0.041) and more anxiety symptoms (p=0.039) predicted the development of PTSD after one month and presence of high pulse rate (P=0.000), high intensity of the tolerated pain (P=0.000), high maximum blood pressure (P=0.047), more somatization symptoms (P=0.019) and more anxiety symptoms (P=0.024) predicted the development of PTSD after three months.

High Blood Pressure, pulse rate and pain as well as more anxiety and somatization symptoms upon experience of trauma may increase rate of PTSD in sever orthopedic patients.