Original ArticleNo Access

Effects of Economic Well-Being on Outcomes at One Year after Volar Plate Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence to: Dafang Zhang, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Tel: +1-617-525-8533, Fax: +1-617-730-2810

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Matthew J. HALL

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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Peter J. OSTERGAARD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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Carl M. HARPER

Department of Orthopaedics, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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Tamara D. ROZENTAL

Department of Orthopaedics, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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, and

Brandon E. EARP

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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https://doi.org/10.1142/S2424835522500783Cited by:1 (Source: Crossref)

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether economic well-being is associated with patient-reported functional outcomes and range of motion 1 year following volar plate fixation of distal radius fracture.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 200 patients with distal radius fractures treated with volar plate fixation at two Level 1 trauma centres from 2006 to 2017 with 1-year clinical follow-up using a previously published cohort. The economic well-being of patients was assessed using the Distressed Communities Index (DCI). Our outcome variables were patient-reported functional outcomes assessed by QuickDASH score and wrist and forearm range of motion 1 year after surgery. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare outcome variables across pre-established tiers of economic well-being.

Results: The mean QuickDASH score at 1 year following distal radius fracture volar plate fixation was 10.8 and ranged from 7.3 to 12.2 across tiers of economic well-being. QuickDASH score and wrist range of motion were not significantly different across all tiers of economic well-being. However, wrist flexion–extension arc at 1 year following surgery was significantly decreased in the economically at-risk group compared with the remaining cohort.

Conclusions: Patient-reported functional outcomes 1 year after volar plate fixation of distal radius fracture are similar across tiers of economic well-being. Economically disadvantaged patients are at risk for poorer wrist motion following distal radius fracture surgery, though it is not clear if this difference is clinically significant.

Level of Evidence: Level II (Prognostic)

Keywords:

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