Pain and disability reported in the year following a distal radius fracture: A cohort study

doi:10.1186/1471-2474-4-24

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Volume 4

Viewing options:

Abstract
Full text
PDF (306KB)

Associated material:

Related literature:

Articles citing this article
on BioMed Central
on Google Scholar
on ISI Web of Science
on PubMed Central
Other articles by authors
on Google Scholar

MacDermid JC
Roth JH
Richards RS

on PubMed

MacDermid JC
Roth JH
Richards RS
Related articles/pages
on Google

on Google Scholar

on PubMed

Tools:

Post to:

Research article

Pain and disability reported in the year following a distal radius fracture: A cohort study

Joy C MacDermid¹^,2 , James H Roth¹^,3 and Robert S Richards¹^,3

¹Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph's Health Centre, London, N6A 4L6 Ontario, Canada

²School of Rehabilitation Sciences McMaster University, Hamilton, L8S 1C7, Ontario, Canada

³Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

author email corresponding author email

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2003, 4:24doi:10.1186/1471-2474-4-24


Published:	31 October 2003

Abstract

Background

Distal radius fractures are a common injury that cause pain and disability. The purpose of this study was to describe the pain and disabilities experienced by patients with a distal radius fracture in the first year following fracture.

Methods

A prospective cohort study of 129 patients with a fracture of the distal radius was conducted. Patients completed a Patient-rated Wrist Evaluation at their baseline clinic visit and at 2, 3, 6 and 12 months following their fracture. The frequency/severity of pain and disabilities reported was described at each time point.

Results

The majority of patients experienced mild pain at rest and (very) severe high levels of pain with movement during the first two-months following distal radius fracture. This time is also associated with (very) severe difficulty in performing specific functional activities and moderate to severe difficulty in four domains of usual activity. The majority of recovery occurred within six-months, but symptoms persisted for a small minority of patients at one-year following fracture. Patients had the most difficulty with carrying ten pounds and pushing up from a chair. Resumption of usual personal care and household work preceded, and was more complete, than work and recreational participation.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the normal course of recovery following a distal radius fracture is one where severe symptoms subside within the first two-months and the majority of patients can be expected to have minimal pain and disability by six-months following fracture. This information can be used when planning interventions and assessing whether the progress of a patient is typical of other patients.