Functional outcomes are restored a decade after a distal radius fracture : a prospective long-term follow-up study

• We performed an 11-13-year prospective follow-up of patients after a distal radial fracture (DRF) to investigate the association between fracture malunion, radiocarpal osteoarthritis and clinical outcome. In total, 292 patients responded to patient-reported outcome measures; of them, 242 underwent clinical examination. Clinical outcomes improved with time. A decade after fracture, median Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score was 5, EuroQol Five-dimensions score was 1.0, and range of motion and grip strength were 96% of the contralateral side. Neither osteoarthritis (6%) nor pseudoarthrosis of the ulnar styloid (30%) affected the outcomes. Dorsal tilt, radial inclination, ulnar variance and intra-articular extension did not affect long-term clinical outcomes or the risk of osteoarthritis. Recovery after a DRF is an ongoing process that lasts years. A decade after the injury event, range of motion, grip strength and QuickDASH were recovered to population normal, regardless of radiological outcomes.Level of evidence: II.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Ortopedi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Orthopaedics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Distal radius fracture

functional outcomes

grip strength

long-term results

outcomes

patient-reported outcome measure

range of motion

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)