Overall effects and moderators of rehabilitation in patients with wrist fracture: a systematic review

Key Points

1. Electromagnetic therapies do not appear beneficial for pain and function, with mobilizations at 2 weeks post-surgical reduction likely beneficial in the short- to long -term.

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Fractures of the wrist account for 25% of all fractures in the UK (1). Such fractures appear to often be an indicator of poor bone health and are associated with significant consequences towards activities of daily living, loss of independence and quality of life, fractures at other sites, and increased mortality rates post-fractures (2). Treatment of wrist fractures, whether conservative or surgical, involves clinical decision making which considers the harm vs benefit of the approaches (3).

This systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence for the effects of rehabilitation and identify potential moderators of the effects of treatments for patients with wrist fracture.

Wrist fractures appear to often be an indicator of poor bone health and are associated with significant consequences.

Home exercise, with a few supervised sessions appear to be a useful approach for rehabilitation post wrist fracture.

METHODS

• Adults (50 years of age and over) with a history of wrist fracture were included.

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