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C OPYRIGHT Ó 2014
BY
T HE J OURNAL
OF
B ONE
AND J OINT
S URGERY, I NCORPORATED
Accelerated Rehabilitation Compared with a Standard
Protocol After Distal Radial Fractures Treated with
Volar Open Reduction and Internal Fixation
A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study
Jess L. Brehmer, MD, and Jeffrey B. Husband, MD
Investigation performed at the TRIA Orthopaedic Center, University of Minnesota, Bloomington, Minnesota
Background: There are relatively few studies in the literature that specifically evaluate accelerated rehabilitation protocols for distal radial fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The purpose of this study was to
compare the early postoperative outcomes (at zero to twelve weeks postoperatively) of patients enrolled in an accelerated
rehabilitation protocol with those of patients enrolled in a standard rehabilitation protocol following ORIF for a distal radial
fracture. We hypothesized that patients with accelerated rehabilitation after volar ORIF for a distal radial fracture would
have an earlier return to function compared with patients who followed a standard protocol.
Methods: From November 2007 to November 2010, eighty-one patients with an unstable distal radial fracture were
prospectively randomized to follow either an accelerated or a standard rehabilitation protocol after undergoing ORIF with a
volar plate for a distal radial fracture. Both groups began with gentle active range of motion at three to five days
postoperatively. At two weeks, the accelerated group initiated wrist/forearm passive range of motion and strengthening
exercises, whereas the standard group initiated passive range of motion and strengthening at six weeks postoperatively.
Patients were assessed at three to five days, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, twelve weeks,
and six months postoperatively. Outcomes included Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores (primary
outcome) and measurements of wrist flexion/extension, supination, pronation, grip strength, and palmar pinch.
Results: The patients in the accelerated group had better mobility, strength, and DASH scores at the early postoperative
time points (zero to eight weeks postoperatively) compared with the patients in the standard rehabilitation group. The
difference between the groups was both clinically relevant and statistically significant.
Conclusions: Patients who follow an accelerated rehabilitation protocol that emphasizes motion immediately postoperatively and initiates strengthening at two weeks after volar ORIF of a distal radial fracture have an earlier return to
function than patients who follow a more standard rehabilitation protocol.
Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Peer Review: This article was reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and one Deputy Editor, and it underwent blinded review by two or more outside experts. It was also reviewed
by an expert in methodology and statistics. The Deputy Editor reviewed each revision of the article, and it underwent a final review by the Editor-in-Chief prior to publication.
Final corrections and clarifications occurred during one or more exchanges between the author(s) and copyeditors.
D
istal radial fractures are common. Open reduction and
internal fixation (ORIF) with a volar fixed-angle plate
is commonly used for the management of distal radial
fractures to allow early mobilization and strengthening1-12.
With many rehabilitation protocols for distal radial
fractures treated with volar ORIF, the wrist is immobilized
for several weeks postoperatively, and wrist strengthening
exercises are initiated at approximately six to eight weeks
Disclosure: One or more of the authors received payments or services, either directly or indirectly (i.e., via his or her institution), from a third party in
support of an aspect of this work. None of the authors, or their institution(s), have had any financial relationship, in the thirty-six months prior to
submission of this work, with any entity in the biomedical arena that could be perceived to influence or have the potential to influence what is written in this
work. In addition, no author has had any other relationships, or has engaged in any other activities, that could be perceived to influence or have the
potential to influence what is written in this work. The complete Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest submitted by authors are always provided
with the online version of the article.
J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2014;96:1621-30
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.M.00860
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postoperatively1-31. Few studies have dealt specifically with early
rehabilitation following distal radial fractures. We found only
one article, by Lozano-Calderón et al.25, that compared an
early-motion cohort with a late-motion cohort; one group
started range-of-motion exercises within two weeks postoperatively and the other, at six weeks postoperatively. LozanoCalderón et al. found no difference between the groups at three
or six months postoperatively and ultimately concluded that
wrist immobilization for six weeks does not lead to decreased
wrist motion or strength over the long term25. In the current
study, the postoperative time points at which we implemented
the accelerated rehabilitation protocol and assessed the return
of patient function were earlier than those in the study by
Lozano-Calderón et al.
When designing a rehabilitation protocol, one must
consider the forces during rehabilitation exercises as well as the
ultimate strength of the implants used32-34. Putnam et al.22 reported that males have an average grip force of 104 lb (464 N)
and that 2.24 lb (10 N) of grip force translates into 5.8 lb (26 N)
of force in the distal radial metaphysis. During power grip, the
distal radial metaphysis experiences 541.8 lb (2410 N). Putnam
et al. recommended that grip forces in early rehabilitation
be <37.5 lb (<169 N). In the present study, we used the Hand
Innovations DVR plate (Biomet, Warsaw, Indiana) which has
been reported to have an ultimate strength of 23 to 230 lb (102
to 1023 N)32-34. Thus, limiting early rehabilitation grip forces to
37.5 lb (169 N) is within the strength parameters for this
implant33.
In the current study, we implemented an accelerated
rehabilitation protocol and compared patient function in the
initial three postoperative months between patients who
followed this protocol with that of patients who followed a
more traditional rehabilitation protocol. In the accelerated
rehabilitation protocol, motion is started three to five days
postoperatively, and strengthening exercises are initiated at
two weeks postoperatively with the goal of attaining earlier
functional recovery. Our objective was to prospectively compare early clinical outcomes—i.e., motion, strength, and return
to function—between traditional and accelerated rehabilitation
protocols.
Materials and Methods
T
his prospective, randomized study was approved by our institutional review board. From November 2006 to November 2010, eighty-one patients
who met our inclusion criteria were prospectively enrolled. Patient sample size
for each group was based on estimates derived with use of the Disabilities of the
Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score as the primary outcome measure. We
planned the study of a continuous response variable in independent control and
35-37
experimental groups. In previous studies
, the response within each subject
group was normally distributed with a standard deviation of 14.68. Using 10.1
as the minimal clinically important difference in the DASH score, we determined that we would need to enroll between seventy and eighty patients in total
(thirty-five or forty patients per group) to achieve 80% power, with alpha of
37
0.05 .
Inclusion criteria were (1) a patient age of eighteen to eighty-five
years, (2) an isolated distal radial fracture confirmed by radiographs, and (3)
volar ORIF of a distal radial fracture. All fractures were treated with a Hand
Innovations DVR plate. Exclusion criteria were (1) a previous distal radial
A C C E L E R AT E D R E H A B I L I TAT I O N V S . S TA N D A R D P R O T O C O L
A F T E R D I S TA L R A D I A L F R A C T U R E S T R E AT E D W I T H V O L A R ORIF
fracture on the affected side; (2) a professional athlete; (3) bilateral distal
radial fracture; (4) another concurrent fracture; and (5) a distal radial fracture
for which, in the surgeon’s judgment, fixation of fracture fragments could not
be achieved to allow participation in the accelerated rehabilitation protocol.
There was no standardization of surgical technique. Fixation was obtained for
all enrolled patients. Initially a Workers’ Compensation claim was an exclusion criterion for enrollment into the study. However, due to low patient
enrollment, this was changed partway through the study to increase patient
enrollment. All patients were randomized after consent for study enrollment
was obtained. Consent was obtained preoperatively or, when that was not
possible (e.g., because the patient was first seen at a nearby hospital or the
study coordinator was not available), postoperatively but prior to the initiation of therapy. The surgery as well as postoperative hand therapy visits took
place at an ambulatory surgery center in a major metropolitan area (TRIA
Orthopaedic Center, Bloomington, Minnesota). Five surgeons contributed
patients to this study.
Enrollment was performed by a research coordinator who was blinded
to fracture severity and, if consent had been obtained postoperatively but before
initiation of therapy, to the operative result. All participating surgeons were
blinded to each patient’s randomization group as the surgeons’ postoperative
care was the same for the two groups. The only difference between the groups
was the protocol that was followed for postoperative therapy. Due to the nature
of the study, the hand therapists were not blinded. All measurements and
assessments were performed postoperatively at scheduled outpatient hand
therapy appointments by the unblinded treating therapist, which introduced a
potential source of measurement bias. Randomization was performed by
computerized random number generation. Patients were prospectively randomized into either the accelerated rehabilitation protocol group or the standard rehabilitation protocol group. We chose not to stratify this study according
to fracture type because a group with multiple fracture types more closely
resembles the typical scenario that clinicians encounter in their day-to-day
practice. See the Appendix for the distribution of fracture types between the two
groups. The primary outcome measure in this study was the DASH score, and
the secondary outcome measures were range of motion and strength (grip and
palmar pinch).
From November 2006 to November 2010, 523 distal radial fractures
(523 patients) underwent operative treatment at our institution; 411 met the
inclusion criteria. Of these 411 patients (411 distal radial fractures), eightyone (eighty-one isolated distal radial fractures) consented to study enrollment. Initially, we planned to randomize 100 patients but, due to difficulty
enrolling patients, enrollment was stopped at eighty-one patients, which
according to our statistical calculations still provided sufficient statistical
power. Most patients who refused to enroll in the study cited fear of being
randomized into the standard group as their main reason for not consenting
to enrollment. Ultimately, thirty-six patients were randomized into the
accelerated rehabilitation protocol group and forty-five patients were randomized into the standard rehabilitation group. Postoperatively, three patients were removed from the study. One of these patients requested to be
removed for unknown reasons whereas the other two became ineligible
for the study—one because a malreduced fragment was noted on the first
postoperative visit, requiring postponement of therapy, and one because of
a concomitant occult contralateral distal radial fracture postoperatively.
Intention-to-treat analysis was not performed as data were not collected on
any of the three patients after they were removed from the study. This left a
total of thirty-six patients in the accelerated group and forty-two patients in
the standard group (Fig. 1).
Patient Demographics
Patients in the two groups were similar with respect to age, sex, occupation,
and involvement of their dominant hand (see Appendix). Since we did not
collect demographic data for eligible patients who refused enrollment, we do
not know whether they were similar to those who enrolled. Twenty-one men
and fifty-seven women participated in the study. The average age at the time
of surgery was 55.3 years for the standard group and 49.8 years for the
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A C C E L E R AT E D R E H A B I L I TAT I O N V S . S TA N D A R D P R O T O C O L
A F T E R D I S TA L R A D I A L F R A C T U R E S T R E AT E D W I T H V O L A R ORIF
Fig. 1
Patient enrollment diagram. *For the number and percentage of patients seen at each follow-up visit, see Table E-3 in the Appendix.
accelerated group. The dominant upper extremity was affected in twenty-one
patients in the standard group and fifteen patients in the accelerated group.
Occupations were similar between the two groups. Five patients in the standard
group and four patients in the accelerated group had jobs involving manual labor
(carpenter, construction, automotive repair, press operator, bicycle repair, stock
room, personal trainer). There were two active smokers in the standard group
and six in the accelerated group. There were ten former smokers in the
standard group and fourteen in the accelerated group. No other comorbid
medical conditions were assessed. The average time from injury to surgical
fixation was 4.9 days for the patients in the standard group and 5.4 days for
the patients in the accelerated group. The distribution of fracture types,
which is shown in the Appendix, did not differ significantly between the two
groups.
Interventions and Outcomes
Following surgery, patients were treated with the rehabilitation protocol to which they had been randomized (Table I). The standard rehabil1-31
itation protocol was designed based on the literature
as well as the
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TABLE I Accelerated and Standard Rehabilitation Protocols
Postop. Time Point
Accelerated Protocol
3-5 days
d
d
Finger, elbow, shoulder active range
of motion
Wrist, forearm active range of motion
Finger, elbow, shoulder active range of motion
d
Wrist, forearm active range of motion
d
Finger passive range of motion
d
d
Edema control
d
d
d
Custom splint (30° wrist extension),
removed for hygiene, dressing,
eating, exercises
Light putty strengthening
3 wk
d
Weaned from splint
4 wk
d
Isotonic strengthening
d
Medium putty strengthening
d
Discontinuation of splint use
d
Heavy putty strengthening
d
d
7 wk
8 wk
12 wk
6 mo
Finger passive range of motion
Edema control
Custom splint (30° wrist extension), removed for
hygiene, dressing, eating, exercises
Wrist, forearm passive range of motion
Isometrics
d
6 wk
d
d
d
2 wk
Standard Protocol
Wrist, forearm passive range of motion
Light putty strengthening
d
Weaned from splint
d
Isometrics
d
Discontinuation of splint use
d
Medium putty strengthening
d
Isotonic strengthening
d
Heavy putty strengthening
d
Study visit for measurements
d
Study visit for measurements
d
Study visit for measurements
d
Study visit for measurements
rehabilitation protocol already in place at our institution prior to this
study.
Both groups began with active range of motion (no active-assisted) of the
shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and digits at three to five days postoperatively.
The groups began to diverge in their treatment at two weeks postoperatively,
when the accelerated group started wrist/forearm passive range of motion
and light strengthening with wrist isometrics and gripping with putty. At
four weeks postoperatively, this group discontinued using the splint, and isotonic
exercises were added. The standard group wore the splint until six weeks postoperatively, at which point passive range of motion and strengthening were
initiated. The same splint—a custom volar splint in 30° extension—was used
for both groups. Scar management began when sutures were removed in both
groups.
Patients were assessed at three to five days, two weeks, three weeks,
four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks, twelve weeks, and six months postoperatively. At each visit, assessments consisted of the DASH score (primary
outcome) as well as assessments at physical examination of wrist flexion and
extension, wrist supination/pronation, grip strength, and palmar pinch
strength (secondary outcomes). Postoperative radiographs were routinely
obtained at two weeks, six weeks, and three months. A table in the Appendix
TABLE II Postoperative DASH Scores
DASH Score
Standard group
Preop.
3-5 Days
2 Wk
3 Wk
4 Wk
6 Wk
8 Wk
12 Wk
6 Mo
66
60
48
39
31
23
15
8
5
Accelerated group
65
55
39
30
21
13
5
3
P value
0.8
0.3
0.01*
0.02*
0.004*
0*
0.001*
0.04*
0.19
29.90
to 11.60
24.44
to 14.22
1.91
to 16.47
1.34
to 16.71
3.34
to 16.98
4.85
to 16.08
3.23
to 12.13
0.12
to 6.65
21.06
to 5.10
95% confidence
interval
*A significant difference between groups.
7
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A C C E L E R AT E D R E H A B I L I TAT I O N V S . S TA N D A R D P R O T O C O L
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Fig. 2
Graph showing DASH scores of both groups at
the postoperative time points. An asterisk
indicates a significant difference between
groups at that time point.
Fig. 3
Graphs showing wrist extension, wrist flexion, forearm supination, and forearm pronation of the affected extremity at the postoperative time points. An
asterisk indicates a significant difference between groups at that time point.
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A C C E L E R AT E D R E H A B I L I TAT I O N V S . S TA N D A R D P R O T O C O L
A F T E R D I S TA L R A D I A L F R A C T U R E S T R E AT E D W I T H V O L A R ORIF
ä
TABLE III Postoperative Range of Motion and Grip and Pinch Strengths on the Affected Side
2 Wk
3 Wk
4 Wk
Wrist flexion (deg)
Standard group
Accelerated group
P value
95% confidence interval
29
36
0.01*
211.86 to 21.99
33
36
45
0*
49
0*
216.94 to 26.92
217.89 to 28.24
Wrist extension (deg)
Standard group
42
46
50
Accelerated group
44
51
56
P value
95% confidence interval
0.33
0.05*
0.01*
27.03 to 2.41
29.96 to 20.08
210.56 to 21.90
Forearm supination (deg)
Standard group
Accelerated group
P value
95% confidence interval
51
52
61
56
0.31
63
0.02*
69
0.05*
214.00 to 4.55
220.20 to 22.14
215.99 to 20.09
Forearm pronation (deg)
Standard group
73
75
79
Accelerated group
75
77
78
P value
95% confidence interval
0.61
0.55
0.79
26.9 to 4.1
28.2 to 4.4
24.2 to 5.5
Grip strength (lb [N])
Standard group
22 (98)
30 (133)
36 (160)
Accelerated group
P value
26 (116)
0.23
35 (156)
0.27
39 (173)
0.52
211.37 to 2.81
(250.58 to 12.50)
214.84 to 4.15
(266.01 to 18.46)
212.63 to 6.40
(256.18 to 28.47)
95% confidence interval
Palmar pinch strength (lb [N])
Standard group
8 (36)
9 (40)
10 (44)
Accelerated group
8 (36)
10 (44)
11 (49)
P value
95% confidence interval
0.77
0.59
0.35
21.95 to 1.45
(28.67 to 6.45)
22.45 to 1.41
(210.90 to 6.27)
22.48 to 0.90
(211.03 to 4.00)
*A significant difference between groups.
lists the numbers of patients assessed at each of the various follow-up time
points in this study.
Group t test statistical analysis was performed on the data collected to
compare outcomes between the two groups at each of the individual time
points. We compared the outcomes between the two groups at each time point,
as opposed to assessing recovery over time. Significance was set at p < 0.05. The
minimally clinically important difference for the DASH score was 10.1 points.
Source of Funding
This study received limited financial support (from a research grant) from
DePuy, Inc. No implants were provided.
Results
First Eight Weeks Postoperatively
atients in the accelerated group consistently had lower
DASH scores than patients in the standard group from
P
the three-to-five-day to eight-week postoperative time
points (Table II and Fig. 2). The difference in DASH scores
between the groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05) at
each time period from two to eight weeks postoperatively,
but the significant difference was clinically relevant only
at four and six weeks postoperatively. Patients in the accelerated group had a better range of motion (flexion, extension, and supination) at each time interval from two to eight
weeks postoperatively, and these differences were significant
(p < 0.05) at each time interval from three to eight weeks
postoperatively (Table III and Fig. 3). There was no difference in pronation. The only significant difference in strength
between the two groups was in grip strength at six weeks
(p = 0.02) (Table III and Fig. 4).
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A C C E L E R AT E D R E H A B I L I TAT I O N V S . S TA N D A R D P R O T O C O L
A F T E R D I S TA L R A D I A L F R A C T U R E S T R E AT E D W I T H V O L A R ORIF
TABLE III (continued)
6 Wk
8 Wk
12 Wk
6 Mo
39
50
67
60
56
57
75
65
0.01*
0.01*
0.05*
221.11 to 211.14
211.81 to 21.65
213.80 to 22.23
211.36 to 0.05
52
60
68
69
65
0.002*
72
0.22
70
0.57
213.50 to 26.07
28.85 to 22.00
28.84 to 2.10
24.47 to 2.49
66
74
82
79
75
80
86
84
0*
62
0*
0.01*
0.03*
0.19
0.10
216.52 to 23.14
211.05 to 20.57
210.11 to 2.06
211.40 to 1.09
77
81
81
83
80
83
82
81
0.23
28.2 to 2.0
0.41
26.4 to 2.7
0.77
24.8 to 3.6
0.3
21.9 to 5.9
37 (165)
44 (196)
65 (289)
57 (254)
49 (218)
49 (218)
70 (311)
69 (306)
0.02*
0.21
0.31
0.02*
221.14 to 22.41
(294.04 to 210.72)
213.00 to 2.90
(257.83 to 12.90)
215.61 to 5.01
(269.44 to 22.29)
220.96 to 21.87
(293.23 to 28.32)
11 (49)
12 (53)
13 (58)
13 (58)
16 (71)
17 (76)
15 (67)
16 (71)
0.29
22.67 to 0.80
(211.00 to 3.560)
0.80
22.11 to 1.63
(29.39 to 7.25)
Twelve-Week and Six-Month Follow-up
The twelve-week and six-month follow-up data showed
fewer differences between the two groups. The difference in
DASH scores at twelve weeks was statistically significant
(p = 0.04) but not clinically relevant (Table II and Fig. 2). The
only statistically significant differences in range of motion
and strength at twelve weeks and six months postoperatively were better wrist flexion (at twelve weeks [p = 0.01]
and six months [p = 0.05]) and grip strength (at six months
[p = 0.02]) in the accelerated group (Table III and Figs. 3
and 4).
Subject attrition is shown in the Appendix. There was
no patient crossover between the two arms of the study. Per
our routine, radiographs were obtained at two weeks, six
weeks, and three months postoperatively for all patients. No
changes in fracture alignment were noted. All fractures healed
0.47
0.38
23.18 to 1.48
(214.15 to 6.58)
23.08 to 1.20
(213.70 to 5.34)
by three months. There were no implant failures. One patient
in the accelerated group required a reoperation to remove a
screw protruding into the distal radioulnar joint seven weeks
postoperatively. One patient in the accelerated group sustained a non-traumatic rupture of the ipsilateral extensor
pollicis longus tendon one month postoperatively and underwent tendon transfer three months postoperatively. Four
patients (two in each group) had posttraumatic carpal tunnel
syndrome, which resolved spontaneously in all of them.
There were no infections. There were fifteen ipsilateral ulnar
styloid fractures in the standard group and thirteen in the
accelerated group; all were treated nonoperatively. There was
no significant difference between the two groups with regard
to the distribution of fracture types; however, this was likely
due to a small number of patients in each fracture cohort (see
Appendix).
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A C C E L E R AT E D R E H A B I L I TAT I O N V S . S TA N D A R D P R O T O C O L
A F T E R D I S TA L R A D I A L F R A C T U R E S T R E AT E D W I T H V O L A R ORIF
Fig. 4
Graphs showing grip and palmar pinch strengths of the affected hand at the postoperative time points. 1 lb = 4.45 N. An asterisk indicates a significant
difference between groups at that time point.
Discussion
e studied the early postoperative functional outcomes (in
the first twelve weeks postoperatively) of patients who
had been randomly assigned to undergo either an accelerated
postoperative rehabilitation program or a standard rehabilitation
protocol following volar fixation of a distal radial fracture.
Our standard rehabilitation protocol, which allowed patients to start wrist motion three to five days after surgery but did
not allow strengthening until six weeks postoperatively, may be
considered by some to be aggressive as many surgeons do not
initiate motion until several weeks postoperatively. The accel-
W
erated rehabilitation protocol allowed patients to start wrist
motion three to five days after surgery and initiate strengthening
at two weeks postoperatively.
In 2008, Lozano-Calderón et al. compared patients who
had started wrist motion within two weeks after volar ORIF of a
distal radial fracture with those who had started wrist motion at
six weeks25. At three and six months postoperatively, they found
no significant difference between the two groups with regard
to wrist motion, grip strength, radiographic findings, or scores
on validated questionnaires, including the DASH. The authors
made two interesting statements in their Discussion section: (1)
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they mentioned that their results could have been different if
wrist mobility had been initiated immediately after surgery
and/or if data were collected before twelve weeks after surgery
and (2) they called for further study to evaluate if postoperative
pain would be a hindrance to progression of postoperative
rehabilitation if motion were started immediately postoperatively. The present study addresses each of these points as we
assessed the effectiveness of an accelerated rehabilitation protocol in facilitating an earlier return to function by patients
treated with volar ORIF for a distal radial fracture.
The DASH score was found to differ statistically (p <
0.05) and clinically (>10 points) between the two groups at
four and six weeks after surgery. No consistent significant
difference in grip or palmar pinch strength was found between
the groups. The differences in the postoperative range of motion (except pronation) and DASH scores noted within the first
eight weeks after surgery suggest an earlier return to function
by patients who followed the accelerated rehabilitation protocol. Beyond twelve weeks there was little difference in postoperative outcomes between the two groups, a finding that is
consistent with those of Lozano-Calderón et al.
The outcomes in this study suggest that starting wrist
motion within three to five days and starting strengthening at two
weeks after volar ORIF of distal radial fractures results in an earlier
return of clinically relevant function. This study had several
weaknesses. Results were not stratified by patient age or fracture
type and severity. The distribution of fracture types was not normal
(did not lie within a bell-shaped curve), and there was no significant difference between the two groups based on fracture type.
Although the surgeons were blinded to patient randomization, the
therapists were not. The unblinded treating therapists performed
assessments at scheduled therapy visits, introducing the possibility
of measurement bias. Patient loss to follow-up was also a weakness, particularly at the later time points for both groups. Additionally, three patients were removed from the study, introducing
the possibility of selection bias and decreasing the sample size of
the standard therapy group. Compliance with splinting was not
assessed; patients assigned to the standard protocol may have
discarded their splints early, making their therapy protocol more
similar to the accelerated protocol. Also, we did not collect data
from patients who were eligible for but did not enroll in the study,
possibly causing some sample bias.
A C C E L E R AT E D R E H A B I L I TAT I O N V S . S TA N D A R D P R O T O C O L
A F T E R D I S TA L R A D I A L F R A C T U R E S T R E AT E D W I T H V O L A R ORIF
Because we had difficulty enrolling patients, we allowed
those with a Workers’ Compensation claim to enroll partway
through the study. However, we did not collect the number of
Workers’ Compensation claims as part of the data, thus potentially introducing bias into the findings. The initial study
plan was to randomize 100 patients, but we stopped after enrolling eighty-one patients because of difficulty with enrollment. Finally, we did not include secondary outcome data for
the unaffected limb, which potentially could have been helpful
for comparison or correlation with findings in the study by
Lozano-Calderón et al.25.
In conclusion, the results of our prospective randomized
study suggest that starting range of motion immediately (three
to five days) after volar ORIF of distal radial fractures and
starting strengthening at two weeks postoperatively will facilitate an earlier return to clinically relevant function and potentially allow for an earlier return to daily, work, and sports
activities.
Appendix
Tables showing the distribution of fracture classifications,
patient demographics, and the numbers of patients
available for follow-up at each data collection time point are
available with the online version of this article as a data supplement at jbjs.org. n
NOTE: The authors extend special thanks to Dr. Scott McPherson, Dr. Deb Bohn, Dr. Yvonne
Grierson, Dr. Mark Wilczynski, Megan Reams, Julie Agel, Nancy Callinan, each of the TRIA hand
therapists, Dr. Robby Sikka, and John Hanks, who all assisted with this study.
Jess L. Brehmer, MD
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,
University of Minnesota,
2512 South 7th Street, Suite R200,
Minneapolis, MN 55454.
E-mail address: breh0019@umn.edu
Jeffrey B. Husband, MD
TRIA Orthopaedic Center,
University of Minnesota,
8100 Northland Drive,
Bloomington, MN 55431.
E-mail address: jeffrey.husband@tria.com
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