Life has become troublesome – my wrist bothers me around the clock: an interview study relating to daily life with a malunited distal radius fracture.

Life has become troublesome – my wrist bothers me around the clock: an interview study relating to daily life with a malunited distal radius fracture.

Autor: Andreasson, Ingrid; Kjellby-Wendt, Gunilla; Fagevik-Olsén, Monika; Karlsson, Jón; Carlsson, Gunnel

Publication year: 2020

Disability and rehabilitation

issn:1464-5165 0963-8288

doi: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1561954

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Abstract:

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the everyday life experiences of people suffering from a symptomatic, malunited, distal radius fracture.Method: Qualitative interviews were conducted with twenty respondents, median age 59 [16-85] years. The interviews were subjected to qualitative content analysis.Results: The result, presented as one main theme with categories and subcategories, describes the impact of the injury. Everyday life was affected in all participants, very much in a few highly valued activities such as sports and work, whenever the hand was used, or even at rest. This study indicates that the injury has an impact on the ability to move around, other parts of the body, sleep, emotions, self-perception and relationships. It also shows that the patients used several strategies to manage the situation.Conclusion: The malunion of a distal radius fracture has a negative impact on a wide range of daily activities, as well as other aspects of daily life. There is a need for information between caregivers and patients, and clear routines, once a malunion has occurred.Implications for rehabilitationThe symptomatic malunion of a distal radius fracture should be acknowledged as a complex condition requiring comprehensive interventionsTechnical equipment, braces and new solutions on practical problems was necessary to manage everyday life and should be a focus of intervention for this patient groupThe consequences of the injury was not only restricted activity performance but also affected social relationships and emotionsInformation about fracture healing and how a malunion can occur, as well as information on how much the wrist can be loaded at different time points, is important to reduce anxiety.

Language: eng

Rights:

Pmid: 30696287

Tags: Humans; Middle Aged; Range of Motion, Articular; Wrist Joint; daily life; *Fractures, Malunited; *Radius Fractures; Distal radius fracture; interview study; malunion; Wrist

Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30696287/