Short Term Outcomes Following Open Reduction Internal Fixation Surgery for a Distal Radius Fracture: 2 Week Versus 4 Week Immobilization. A Retrospective Analysis

Angela Toemen, Shirley Collocott, Wolfgang Heiss-Dunlop, Angela Toemen, Shirley Collocott, Wolfgang Heiss-Dunlop

Abstract

Study design: The study was a retrospective cohort analysis for a 41 month period; from January 2013 to May 2016.

Introduction: It is suggested that patients following a distal radius fracture (DRF) achieve a comparable outcome at 3 and 6 months post surgery regardless of the time they begin mobilization. In previous studies there has been limited analysis of outcomes within the initial 3 months: functional return, time taken from work and use of therapy resources are key outcomes which have not formally been investigated in previous studies.

Purpose of the study: To analyze short term outcomes of patients following open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for a DRF.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted to determine primarily if there is a difference in time from work, number of therapy appointments, cost of therapy materials, time to discharge from therapy and secondarily range of motion (ROM) and grip strength (GS); when measured in patients who begin mobilization prior to 2 weeks compared to those who begin mobilization at 4 or greater weeks post surgery.

Results: Patients mobilized early were discharged from hand therapy significantly quicker (p = 0.033) and returned to work significantly faster (p = 0.019) than those mobilized later. Patients who began mobilization at 2 weeks or earlier post surgery had significantly greater wrist extension/flexion arc at 4 weeks (p < 0.001) and 6 weeks (p < 0.001) and rotation at 4 weeks (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Patients who begin mobilization at 2 weeks or earlier following ORIF for a DRF will lose less time from work and will be discharged sooner from hand therapy. They will additionally have increased ROM in the early post surgery phase.

Keywords: distal radius fracture; hand therapy; mobilization; volar open reduction internal fixation.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

© The Author(s) 2021.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Treatment groups. Key: ORIF =Open reduction internal fixation, DRF= distal radius fracture.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Wrist Inclinometer: Baseline Measurement Instrument, Fabrication Enterprises, Inc. White Plains, New York 10602, and USA.

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Source: PubMed

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