Abstract
Purpose Distal radius fracture often compromises working ability, but clinical implications are less studied in men due to its lower incidence. This study therefore describes sick leave in men with distal radius fracture, specifically exploring the impact of patient- and fracture-related factors. Methods Professionally active men aged 20–65 with distal radius fracture were followed prospectively for 1-year (n = 88). Data included treatment method, radiographic parameters pre/post treatment, complications, health, lifestyle and occupational demand. Patient outcomes were self-reported sick leave; Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score; pain (5 likert scale); SF-36: Physical Component Scale (PCS) and Mental Component Scale (MCS). Results Median sick leave was 4 weeks (IQR 0; 8); almost a third reported taking no sick leave. Categorizing sick leave into 3 groups (0–6, 7–12 and > 12 weeks), men with the longest sick leave had 22 points higher DASH score (p = 0.001) and 5 points lower PCS (p = 0.02) at 1 week and the difference remained over time; they were also older and more often treated surgically. The strongest predictors of length of sick leave were one-week post-fracture DASH score (rs = 0.4, p < 0.001), pain intensity (rs = 0.4, p < 0.001) and PCS (rs = − 0.4, p = 0.002). The correlation between sick leave and pain was even stronger analyzing treatment groups separately (closed reduction and cast rs = 0.56, p = 0.007, surgery rs = 0.42, p = 0.04). Conclusions Self-reported disability, pain and global health measurements as early as 1 week post-fracture are the strongest predictors of length of sick leave regardless of treatment; an important finding easily transferrable to clinical management of distal radius fractures.
Highlights
The most frequent fracture in adults is the distal radius fracture
We find that sick leave after a distal radius fracture in men of working age is highly variable
Almost one quarter of men with radius fracture do not lose any time from work and few are unable to return to work 12 months after fracture
Summary
The most frequent fracture in adults is the distal radius fracture. The reported incidence rate in Southern Sweden is as high as 278 per 100,000 person years and increasing, especially among those of working age [1, 2]. A distal radius fracture is often regarded as simple with good prognosis, a considerable number of individuals experience prolonged pain and disability [3]. A commonly held belief is that high work demand and more severe fracture lead to prolonged sick leave [5, 6], whereas we hypothesize that patient perception plays a key role. The aim of the present study is to describe the variation in sick leave among men with distal radius fracture and most importantly to explore the impact of patient-related factors such as self-reported disability and pain, in addition to fracture related variables
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
