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.