Citation

Beaulé PE, Dervin GF, Giachino AA, Rody K, Grabowski J, Fazekas A. J. Hand Surg. Am. 2000; 25(3): 476-482.

Affiliation

Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10811752

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to record the spectrum of self-reported disability following distal radius fractures and to gauge for differences in hand dominance in the use of subjective outcome data. Items were generated through patient interviews, literature review, and peer consultation. Fifty-three items were evaluated by a group of 55 patients recovering from a fracture of the distal radius, which established the prevalence, mean severity score, and overall severity score (or impact) of each item as it related to physical function and social/emotional impact. Hand dominance, age, and gender were also recorded. The results confirm that many patients who sustain distal radius fractures experience substantial impairment across a spectrum of quality of life domains. Because patients who sustain a dominant wrist injury are likely to report greater functional impairment across a wider range of activities, they also possess a greater potential for improvement. The practical implication is that outcome studies for the treatment of distal radius fractures should take hand dominance into account.

Language: en