Traumatic injury to the lower limb results in ongoing physical symptoms and emotional challenges. Sophie Rees (University of Warwick), Elizabeth Tutton (University of Oxford) and Matthew L Costa (University of Oxford) conducted research around this and discovered that people living 2-4 years following an open fracture (where the bone breaks through the skin) struggled to feel ‘recovered’. Their changed body thwarted their attempts to return to their previous self-identity.
Sophie approached us to create a video, using these findings, to convey the experience of people living after experiencing a traumatic injury. What was it like to become dependent on others in the initial recovery? What are the ongoing difficulties people experience? What helped them feel more like ‘themselves’?
Using their own words, this animation aims to encourage us to listen and reflect on how we can support this population and empathise with their experience. We hope to reach healthcare professionals, patients, and the general public.
ANIMATION CREDITS
Directors Isolde Godfrey & Jess Harvey
Artist & Animator May Kindred-Boothby
Voiceover Artists Reuben Joseph, Jenny Stokes & Robert Wilkinson
Research team Sophie Rees (University of Warwick), Elizabeth Tutton (University of Oxford) and Matthew L Costa (University of Oxford) on behalf of the UK WOLLF collaborators
Involvement group Liz Baird (Senior Patient and Public Involvement Partner, Kadoorie, Oxford Trauma and Emergency Care), Farhan Syed (Orthopaedic and Trauma Consultant, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire), Catherine Hegarty (Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner Physiotherapist, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire) , Laura Joyce (Specialist Physiotherapist, Trauma and Orthopaedics, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire), Kathryn Lewis (Senior Research Nurse, Trauma, John Radcliffe Hospital), Julie Wright (Consultant Nurse, Major Trauma Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital)
With thanks to all the research participants
Funding This project was supported by the University of Warwick and the Economic and Social Research Council (ES/T502054/1). The original research was funded by NIHR Health Technology Assessment (10/57/20).
“Woven Ink were wonderful to work with. They were attentive, generous with time and ideas, and very patient. This was my first experience using research findings to create an animated video to share with stakeholders, and I can’t wait to do it again. Jess and Isolde were sensitive to the research material, and involved our steering group superbly. Their choice of artist was perfect for the project and I am delighted with the final version. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. Thank you so much Jess and Isolde!”