Satisfaction and Recovery After Distal Radius Fracture

Distal radius fracture is the most common fracture in Sweden, but little is known about the patient's experience of pain and hand function during the first three months after the injury. This observational study will provide detailed information on a daily basis regarding pain, use of analgesic drugs, use of splints and hand function as measured weekly by a condition-specific questionnaire.

Two hundred patients who are treated conservatively in a cast and one hundred patients who have undergone surgery will be asked to complete a questionnaire with the following outcome measures for three months: 1. Pain (day-by-day registration on a Likert scale, range 0-10) 2. Analgesic used (day-by-day registration of specific drug, dose and number) 3. PRWE (Patient Reported Wrist Evaluation form, week-by-week registration) 4. Use of and evaluation of efficacy of prefabricated wrist splints (week-by-week registration) 5. Details of sick leave and return to work at completion of the questionnaire at three months. The study is entirely PROM-based and the patient will not require any additional appointments.

Inclusion Criteria: * Unilateral distal radius fractures in patients without any other significant injuries regardless of ligament injuries and ulnar fractures. * Signed written consent Exclusion Criteria: * Compound injuries * Open fractures * Patients with post traumatic function deficits at any level in the affected arm prior to the distal radius fracture. * Patients with function deficits in the affected arm due to other medical conditions (e.g. Parkinsons disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis) * Reduced mental capacity (e.g. dementia, substance abuse)