Relationship between Patient Satisfaction and Objective Functional Outcome after Surgical Treatment for Distal Radius Fractures
published online 29 June 2009.
Abstract
Study Design
Prospective cohort.
Introduction
Patient satisfaction is increasingly used as a metric of health care outcomes. The relationship between patient satisfaction and functional outcomes metrics is understudied.
Purpose
To determine the minimum recovery needed in grip strength, key pinch strength, and arc of motion needed for patient satisfaction after treatment of distal radius fracture (DRF) with volar locking plating system placement.
Methods
A prospective cohort of 125 DRF patients was evaluated three months after surgery for grip strength, key pinch strength, wrist arc of motion, and satisfaction with hand strength and wrist arc of motion. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed using patient satisfaction items as the “gold standard” and each functional measure of outcome as a predictor.
Results
We found that the optimal cutpoints to distinguish satisfaction from dissatisfaction occurred when patients had recovered 65% of their grip strength, 87% of their key grip strength, and 95% of the wrist arc of motion, as measured as percents of their uninjured wrists.
Conclusions
A much greater wrist range of motion must be recovered for patients to be satisfied than what is needed to perform activities of daily living.
Level of Evidence
Diagnosis level 2.
Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Correspondence and reprint requests to Kevin C. Chung, MD, MS, Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, 2130 Taubman Center, SPC 5340, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5340
ABSTRACT