Recovery Timeline for Distal Radius Fractures Treated with Volar Plate
Author Information
Author(s): Chris Dillingham, MaryBeth Horodyski, Aimee M. Struk, Thomas Wright
Primary Institution: University of Florida
Hypothesis
What is the recovery timeline for unstable distal radius fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation with a locking volar plate?
Conclusion
Patients experience the greatest improvement in wrist motion within the first three months after surgery, with continued improvement in grip strength up to one year.
Supporting Evidence
- Range of motion improvement is greatest between 2 weeks and 3 months post-surgery.
- Grip strength returns to near normal by one year after surgery.
- Supination and pronation return to 92% of the uninjured wrist at 3 months.
Takeaway
If you break your wrist and have surgery, you'll start to feel better in a few months, but it might take a whole year to get back to normal strength.
Methodology
Data was collected prospectively on 27 patients during routine post-operative visits at multiple time points, measuring range of motion and grip strength.
Potential Biases
Patients who were not doing well were more likely to return for follow-up, potentially skewing results.
Limitations
Patient noncompliance with follow-up visits and small sample size limit the findings.
Participant Demographics
15 women and 12 men, mean age 53 years, with a mix of dominant and nondominant hand injuries.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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