Fracture of the distal radius (DRF) is a common musculoskeletal system injury. Fracture of the ulnar styloid frequently accompanies fractures of the distal radius and is seen in 50-65% of these cases. The loss of dexterity is common in many musculoskeletal conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an associated ulnar styloid fracture following a distal radius fracture has any effect on manual dexterity. Patients who diagnosed with isolated DRF or DRF accompanied with ulnar styloid fracture and applied to hand rehabilitation unit were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the ulnar styloid fracture presence. USF Group was DRF with ulnar styloid fracture; NON-USF Group was DRF without ulnar styloid fracture. Pain, range of motion, Quick-DASH, hand grip and pinch strength, Purdue Pegboard Test, Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test was measured at six month. A total of 125 patients, 68 female (54,4%) and 57 male (45,6%) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 47,15±13,41 (18-65) years. 65 of the patients (52%) had isolated fracture of the distal radius fracture (NON-USF group) and 60 patients (48%) had a concurrent ulnar styloid fracture (USF group). There was no significant difference in pain between the groups (p\>0,05). Joints range of motion were higher in the NON-USF group than in the USF group. This difference was statistically significant only for flexion and extension (p\<0,05). There was no statistically significant difference in Quick-DASH score between groups (p\>0,05). The injured hand grip and pinch strength values in NON-USF group were greater than the USF group but the difference was not statistically significant (p\>0,05). The manual dexterity and hand function tests showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups at six months (p\>0,05). There is a consensus that ulnar styloid fracture has no effect on overall hand function. But, there is no study dwelled on the manual dexterity. In this study, the effect of ulnar styloid fracture on hand function is more clearly emphasized. In conclusion, concomitant USF does not lead poorer manual dexterity.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
125
The patients were admitted to 12-weeks rehabilitation program and were called up once a week for follow-up appointments. Hand therapy continued as home program between 12th week and 6th month.
Pain
The severity of pain was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS) in sleep, rest, and activity
Time frame: six month
Range of motion
Patients' forearm and wrist joints ROM (pronation, supination, flexion, extension, radial and ulnar deviation) were measured with an universal goniometer
Time frame: six month
Grip and Pinch Strength
The handgrip and pinch strengths were measured according to standard strength measurement method suggested by American Society of Hand Therapists respectively using a hand dynamometer and a pinch meter
Time frame: six month
Quick-The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Q-DASH)
It was used to a shortened version of the DASH Outcome Measure. Instead of 30 items, the Quick-DASH uses 11 items to measure physical function and symptoms in people with any or multiple musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb
Time frame: six month
Purdue Pegboard Test
Four subtests of the Purdue Pegboard Test (1-800-428-7545, Model 32020, Lafayette Instrument Co., IL, USA) (right hand, left hand, both hands and assembly) were performed to measure fine manual dexterity of the hands after DRF
Time frame: six month
Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test
The seven individual subtests of JTHFT (Sammons Preston Ability One, #8063) including writing, card turning, picking up small common objects, stacking checkers, stimulated feeding, moving light objects and moving heavy objects were performed in a standardized procedure
Time frame: six month
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