title: Hand function, experienced pain, and disability after distal radius fracture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to explore differences in range of motion (ROM), grip strength, and self-reported pain and disability over time after plate-fixation surgery for distal radius fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a prospective repeated-measures research design with four measure points for a study sample of 101 patients. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire; the Global Assessment Scale; and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure were used to assess ROM, grip strength, and pain level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ROM and grip strength improved over time. Pain improved until 6 mo after surgery but greatly deteriorated from 6 to 24 mo. Concurrently, overall discomfort (global index) from the wrist extensively improved from 12 to 24 mo. DASH score decreased 20.1 points from 6 wk to 6 mo and remained stable until 24 mo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even when ROM and grip strength were almost fully regained at 12 mo, pain at rest and during activity was still an issue at 24 mo.
authors.affiliation: Karin Ydreborg, ROT, is Occupational Therapist, Department of Hand Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Burns, County Council of Östergötland, University Hospital, Rehabilitation Unit, Linköping, Sweden; karin.ydreborg@lio.se.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ydreborg
authors.affiliation: Christina Engstrand, ROT, BSc, is Occupational Therapist, Department of Hand Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Burns, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden, and PhD Student, Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Engstrand
authors.affiliation: Ingrid Steinvall, RN, PhD, is Nurse and Researcher, Department of Hand Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Burns, County Council of Östergotland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Steinvall
authors.affiliation: Eva-Lena Larsson, ROT, PhD, is Occupational Therapist and Researcher, Department of the Orthopedic Clinic, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva-Lena
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Larsson