title: Self-reported disability following distal radius fractures: the influence of hand dominance.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Beaulé
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Dervin
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Giachino
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rody
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grabowski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fazekas
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery