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Published on: March 13, 2026
Patient-Reported Outcomes After Distal Radius Fractures Differ Across Geographic and Cultural Populations: A Global
Robert E Bilodeau1,2, Rishabh S Bhadouriya1,2, Craig E Klinger1
1Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, USA.
Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Patient outcomes after distal radius fracture surgery vary significantly by cultural and geographic region. This systematic review highlights that results from one area may not apply globally, emphasizing the need for context-specific analysis.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Health Outcomes Research
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Distal radius fractures are common, with volar plate fixation being a standard surgical treatment.
- Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are crucial for evaluating treatment success.
- Existing research often overlooks geographical and cultural variations in PROs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze patient-reported outcomes (PROs) following volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures.
- To assess the heterogeneity of PROs across diverse cultural and geographical regions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2010 and 2023.
- Inclusion of studies reporting Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), QuickDASH, Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), or Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) PROs.
- Characterization of studies by country, continent, and cultural region of origin; subgroup analyses performed to identify regional differences.
Main Results:
- Significant heterogeneity in mean DASH, PRWE, and VAS scores was observed across studies (p<0.01 for all).
- Subgroup analyses revealed significantly different pooled mean PRO scores across nine cultural regions for DASH, seven for PRWE, and eight for VAS.
- 52, 33, and 23 treatment arms met inclusion criteria for DASH, PRWE, and VAS analyses, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Patient-reported outcomes after distal radius volar plate fixation show significant variation based on cultural and geographic context.
- Findings suggest that PROs from one cultural region may not be generalizable to other populations.
- Highlights the importance of considering cultural and geographical factors in the interpretation and application of PRO data in orthopedic surgery.
