Distal radius fracture rehabilitation: A bibliometric and scoping review

Distal radius fractures are among the most common upper limb injuries, significantly impacting hand function and quality of life of individuals. Rehabilitation is essential for optimizing functional recovery, yet the research landscape on distal radius fractures rehabilitation is fragmented across various methodologies and interventions.

This study aims to integrate bibliometric analysis and a scoping review to map the existing literature, identify research trends, and evaluate rehabilitation approaches for distal radius fractures.

Systematic bibliometric scoping review.

A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database to examine publication trends, citation impact, and keyword co-occurrence in distal radius fractures rehabilitation research. The scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework, identifying relevant studies focusing on rehabilitation interventions for distal radius fractures. Inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials assessing rehabilitation strategies. Data were extracted and analyzed to determine key intervention categories, outcome measures, and research gaps.

The bibliometric analysis identified 964 publications on distal radius fractures rehabilitation, with an increasing trend in research output since the 1990s. The United States, Canada, and Germany were the leading contributors, with North American institutions demonstrating high citation impact. Key research themes included rehabilitation techniques, surgical management, and functional outcomes. The scoping review included 11 randomized controlled trials, categorizing rehabilitation approaches into multimodal rehabilitation, technology-assisted rehabilitation, early vs delayed mobilization, exercise-based rehabilitation, and physical therapy and manual therapy approaches. Early mobilization and structured therapy demonstrated positive functional outcomes, while digital interventions showed potential but lacked long-term validation. Most studies used the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand as outcome measures.

The integration of bibliometric and scoping review findings highlights a growing research focus on distal radius fractures rehabilitation, yet significant gaps remain in standardized rehabilitation protocols and long-term outcome evaluations.