A comparison of six outcome measures across the recovery period after distal radius fixation–which to use and when?

Abstract

Purpose: Many standardized outcome measures exist to measure recovery after surgical fixation of distal radius fractures, however, choosing the optimal instrument is difficult. We evaluated responsiveness, ceiling/floor effects, and criterion validity over multiple time intervals across a 2-year follow-up period for six commonly used instruments.

Methods: A total of 259 patients who received open reduction and internal fixation for distal radius fractures between 2012 and 2015 were recruited. Patients were administered the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), Shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (QuickDASH), Green and O'Brien score (Cooney modification) (CGNO), Gartland and Werley score (Sarmiento modification) (SGNW), flexion-extension arc (FEArc), and grip fraction test (GripFrac) at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Responsiveness was evaluated by calculating standardized response means (SRM) and Cohen's d effect sizes (ES), and by correlating each instrument's change scores against those of QuickDASH and PRWE, which were also used as external comparators to assess criterion validity. Ceiling/floor effects were calculated for all measures at each time point.

Results: SRM (1.5-24 months) were 1.81, 1.77, 1.43, 1.16, 2.23, 2.45 and ES (1.5-24 months) were 1.81, 1.82, 1.95, 1.31, 1.99 and 2.90 for QuickDASH, PRWE, CGNO, SGNW, FEArc, and GripFrac respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients against QuickDASH at 24 months were: 0.809, 0.248, 0.563, 0.285, and 0.318 for PRWE, CGNO, SGNW, FEArc, and GripFrac respectively. Significant (>15% of patients reaching maximum score) ceiling effects were observed before 6 months for PRWE and SGNW.

Conclusions: Our evidence supports the use of QuickDASH, PRWE, FEArc and GripFrac up to 6 months postsurgery, and QuickDASH and PRWE after 6 months.

Level of evidence: Level II.