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The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate safety and efficacy of an early strengthening and passive mobilization rehabilitation program for post-operative distal radius fracture fixation surgery compared to current conventional rehabilitation.
Functional outcome after distal radius fracture fixation has often been variable with multiple factors affecting final results. Early mobilization rehabilitation protocols have been the gold standard after fracture fixation surgery. Rehabilitation protocols vary from center to center's own practices. However, these commonly encompass an early mobilization protocol or otherwise known as accelerated rehabilitation or enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs. Such programs comprise of a short duration of immobilization followed by a period of active mobilization before strengthening exercises are employed.
The investigators have performed early motion protocol (EMP) rehabilitation in the last decade in the investigation center for post-operative fracture distal radius fixation patients. The early motion protocol allows immediate active mobilization without a period of immobilization or splint protection. Despite early mobilization rehabilitation, there are a subset of patients who develop significant stiffness and pain with poor functional outcomes, especially in the early post-operative period. Moreover, some patients may also develop complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) albeit early active mobilization. Thus, an early strengthening protocol (ESP) was developed to allow for immediate strengthening and passive mobilization exercises post-operatively with physiotherapist and occupational therapist guidance. Herein this study, the investigators hope to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of an ESP rehabilitation compared to EMP for post-operative distal radius fracture fixation.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Strengthening Protocol (ESP) | Experimental | Early use of strength and passive stretching will be encouraged after their initial assessment by rehabilitation therapists within 2 weeks of their discharge. |
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| Early Motion Protocol (Control) | Active Comparator | Active mobilization is continued for the initial post-operative 6 weeks with allied health therapists, while passive mobilization and strengthening are started at the post-operative 8-10-week period. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Strengthening Protocol | Other | Patients in the ESP intervention arm will undergo active and passive exercises as well as strengthening exercises after their initial assessment by rehabilitation therapists within 2 weeks of their discharge. Early use of strength and passive stretching will be encouraged immediately after allocation. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Region-specific patient reported functional outcome score | Physical function and symptoms measured by Shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH), an 11-item patient-reported measure with a total score ranging from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability). | At post-op 2 weeks, 6 weeks , 12 weeks and 6 months and 12 months |
| Range of motion | Subjects' wrist range of motion, including: pronation, supination, flexion, and extension will be measured by allied health therapists at each follow-up timepoint. | At post-op 2 weeks, 6 weeks , 12 weeks and 6 months and 12 months |
| Grip strength | Grip strength will be measured using a dynamometer weekly for the ESP group and weekly from 6 weeks onwards for the EMP group. | ESP group: At post-op weekly from 1 to 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months ; EMP group: At post-op weekly from 6 to 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Health-related Quality of Life Measured by SF-12 Chinese (HK) Version | 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), a patient-reported outcome measure of HRQOL comprised of a mental component (MCS) and physical component (PCS), each with a final score ranging from 0 (worst outcome) to 100 (best outcome). | At post-op 2 weeks, 6 weeks , 12 weeks and 6 months and 12 months |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Prof. Fang, MBBS(HK) | Contact | +852 22554581 | cfang@hku.hk |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Prof. Fang, MBBS(HK), FRCS(Edinburgh), FHK | Dept of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Queen Mary Hospital | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong | Recruiting | Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27523260 | Background | Tsutsui S, Kawasaki K, Yamakoshi K, Uchiyama E, Aoki M, Inagaki K. Impact of double-tiered subchondral support procedure with a polyaxial locking plate on the stability of distal radius fractures using fresh cadaveric forearms: Biomechanical and radiographic analyses. J Orthop Sci. 2016 Sep;21(5):603-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jos.2016.07.015. Epub 2016 Aug 12. | |
| 26351239 |
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Anonymized dataset to be included as supplementary data in final publication
Within 1 year of study completion
Additional information available upon reasonable request of principal investigator
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D000092503 | Wrist Fractures |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D014954 | Wrist Injuries |
| D001134 | Arm Injuries |
| D014947 | Wounds and Injuries |
| D050723 | Fractures, Bone |
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Double-blind randomised control trial with 50 patients in two interventional arm
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Participants are randomly assigned to either one of the interventional arm and will not be informed of the randomisation result.
Surgeons and assessors are blinded to the intervention allocated.
|
| Early Motion Protocol | Other | Patients are instructed for active flexion, extension, supination, pronation and finger flexion of the operated wrist along with motion of the shoulder and elbow after operation. Active mobilization is continued for the initial post-operative 6 weeks with allied health therapists. Passive mobilization and strengthening is started at the post-operative 8-10-week period. |
|
| Radiographic outcomes | Subjects' X-rays will be assessed for fracture healing, implant migration, and fracture displacement. | At post-op 2 weeks, 6 weeks , 12 weeks and 6 months and 12 months |
| Incidence of complications | Incidence of wound breakdown, infection, CRPS, implant failure including screw breakage, and re-operation | At post-op 2 weeks, 6 weeks , 12 weeks and 6 months and 12 months |
| Qualitative self-reported compliance | Subjects' self-reported score on their compliance to the rehabilitation exercises based on a Likert Scale of 1 (Did not follow) to 5 (Fully comply) | At post-op 2 weeks, 6 weeks , 12 weeks and 6 months and 12 months |
| Baumbach SF, Synek A, Traxler H, Mutschler W, Pahr D, Chevalier Y. The influence of distal screw length on the primary stability of volar plate osteosynthesis--a biomechanical study. J Orthop Surg Res. 2015 Sep 8;10:139. doi: 10.1186/s13018-015-0283-8. |
| 31528050 | Background | Ramavath A, Howard N, Lipscombe S. Biomechanical considerations for strategies to improve outcomes following volar plating of distal radius fractures. J Orthop. 2019 May 11;16(5):445-450. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2019.04.006. eCollection 2019 Sep-Oct. |
| 26403335 | Background | Handoll HH, Elliott J. Rehabilitation for distal radial fractures in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Sep 25;2015(9):CD003324. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003324.pub3. |
| 29975268 | Background | Watson N, Haines T, Tran P, Keating JL. A Comparison of the Effect of One, Three, or Six Weeks of Immobilization on Function and Pain After Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Distal Radial Fractures in Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018 Jul 5;100(13):1118-1125. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.17.00912. |
| 32636043 | Background | Sorensen TJ, Ohrt-Nissen S, Ardenso KV, Laier GH, Mallet SK. Early Mobilization After Volar Locking Plate Osteosynthesis of Distal Radial Fractures in Older Patients-A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Hand Surg Am. 2020 Nov;45(11):1047-1054.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2020.05.009. Epub 2020 Jul 4. |
| 34367829 | Background | Bhan K, Hasan K, Pawar AS, Patel R. Rehabilitation Following Surgically Treated Distal Radius Fractures: Do Immobilization and Physiotherapy Affect the Outcome? Cureus. 2021 Jul 7;13(7):e16230. doi: 10.7759/cureus.16230. eCollection 2021 Jul. |
| 30558805 | Background | Andrade-Silva FB, Rocha JP, Carvalho A, Kojima KE, Silva JS. Influence of postoperative immobilization on pain control of patients with distal radius fracture treated with volar locked plating: A prospective, randomized clinical trial. Injury. 2019 Feb;50(2):386-391. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2018.12.001. Epub 2018 Dec 4. |
| 35510735 | Background | Blomstrand J, Kjellby Wendt G, Karlsson J, Wangdell J, Fagevik Olsen M. Pain, hand function, activity performance and apprehensiveness, in patients with surgically treated distal radius fractures. J Plast Surg Hand Surg. 2023 Feb-Dec;57(1-6):247-252. doi: 10.1080/2000656X.2022.2060992. Epub 2022 May 5. |
| 29212691 | Background | Stinton SB, Graham PL, Moloney NA, Maclachlan LR, Edgar DW, Pappas E. Longitudinal recovery following distal radial fractures managed with volar plate fixation. Bone Joint J. 2017 Dec;99-B(12):1665-1676. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.99B12.BJJ-2017-0348.R1. |
| 21991417 | Background | Dillingham C, Horodyski M, Struk AM, Wright T. Rate of Improvement following Volar Plate Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures. Adv Orthop. 2011;2011:565642. doi: 10.4061/2011/565642. Epub 2011 Aug 11. |
| 23481405 | Background | Sorensen AA, Howard D, Tan WH, Ketchersid J, Calfee RP. Minimal clinically important differences of 3 patient-rated outcomes instruments. J Hand Surg Am. 2013 Apr;38(4):641-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2012.12.032. Epub 2013 Mar 6. |