Outcome and Related Factors in Patients With Distal Radius Fracture After Rehabilitation Treatment

Abstract

Background: Distal radius fracture is the most common forearm fracture in elderly people. Rehabilitation after the fracture could increase effectiveness of treatment as it could reduce pain and increase range of motion and strength of hand and wrist. Objective: To study the outcome and related factors in patients with distal radius fracture after rehabilitation treatment. Methods: The medical record of 30 patients diagnosed with distal radius fracture received rehabilitation treatment with at least 1-year follow-up period was reviewed. Primary outcome included pain, range of motion, grip strength, and deformity were combined to calculate the total score of modified scoring system for functional assessment. Secondary outcome was severity of fracture, treatment method, duration from fracture to rehabilitation treatment and rehabilitative facilities which were also analysed regarding the primary outcome. Results: Most good outcome was reported at 6 months after fracture. Only grip strength required a year to improve. Patients with poor outcome were mostly found in severely fractured group (15/16, 93.8%) with P < .001. The overall total score turned good at 12 months after fracture. Other factors showed no significant correlation with primary outcome (P > .05). Conclusions: Overall outcome was considered good at 12 months after fracture. Severe type of fracture predicted poorer outcome compared with mild type with statistical significance. No statistically significant difference was reported between patients received rehabilitation earlier and later than 2 months in accordance with treatment methods and rehabilitation settings.