Abstracts Posters SICOT-SOF meeting Gothenburg 2010 _2_

Poster
Topic: Trauma - Hand/Wrist
Abstract number: 25364
NATURAL COURSE OF DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURE IN WOMEN AGED 50 TO
75 YEARS BETWEEN THE TWO TIME POINTS OF 1 YEAR AND 2 TO 4 YEARS
AFTER FRACTURE
Manfred HOFER 1 , Elisabeth BROGREN 2 , Michael PETRANEK 3 , Isam ATROSHI 4
1
Department of Physiotherapy, Kristianstad Hospital, Kristianstad (SWEDEN),
2 3
Department of Hand Surgery, Lund University, Malmö (SWEDEN), Department of
4
Radiology, Hässleholm Hospital, Hässleholm (SWEDEN), Department of
Orthopaedics, Hässleholm Hospital, Hässleholm (SWEDEN)
Distal radius fracture may cause prolonged pain and disability but the natural course
is not well-known. We determined change in symptoms and physical measures
occurring between 1 year and 2-4 years after fracture in postmenopausal women.
Methods: This study was part of a prospective population-based cohort study in
which all adult persons presenting with acute distal radius fracture were evaluated at
baseline and at 1 year after fracture. The present study included women 50-75 years
of age initially treated with cast or external/percutaneous pin fixation who participated
in the 1-year follow-up. None had further treatment. The women were re-evaluated at
mean of 39 months (range 25-55 months) after fracture including pain, DASH
questionnaire, range of motion (ROM) and grip strength. Results: 50 women
participated in this study (mean age 65 years; dominant hand 26). Mean VAS scores
for pain with motion and activity improved significantly and DASH scores moderately.
Grip strength increased significantly with an average of 2.3 kg, increasing by >4 kg in
19 patients and decreasing >4 kg in 3 patients. ROM increased significantly in most
directions but the increase was modest averaging 2-4 degrees. A minimum of 10degree
improvement in supination occurred in 20% and in extension in 15% but few
patients improved by 15 degrees in any ROM.Conclusion: After distal radius fracture,
the symptoms, grip strength and motion recorded at 1 year continue a small to
moderate improvement up to 2-4 years.
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