Distal radius fracture in adults: self-reported physical functioning, role functioning, and meaning of injury

To identify physical function, role function, and meaning of injury in adults with a distal radius fracture.

Convenience sample of 60 adults with an isolated distal radius fracture.

Repeated measures of analysis of variance were used to test the relationship of gender, age, education, hand dominance, preinjury physical health, and treatment modality to physical function, role function, and meaning of illness/injury. The independent variable is time and the dependent variables are physical function, role function, and meaning of illness/injury.

Although improvement occurred with time, older adults had significantly lower physical functioning than younger adults while their wrist was immobilized, and middle-age adults had significantly lower role functioning compared to younger and older adults. Physical function was influenced by age, and role function was influenced by both age and education.

The identified need for additional guidance and physical and emotional support with the standard treatment of distal radius fractures highlights the need for nursing care during the early recovery period.