Abstract
Background
Distal radius fracture (DRF) is the most common of fractures, accounting for 18% of all fractures in orthopaedic trauma units. The ability to return to work is an important outcome for both society and the individual, but there is a large variation among patients in how much time off work is required. The choice of treatment is likely an important factor.
Methods
This study was a secondary analysis of an earlier published randomised clinical trial comparing volar locking plate fixation with combined dorsal and volar plate fixation of AO type C DRF. In the present study, we examined the risk of requiring more than 3 months of sick leave among patients who were in the workforce at the time of fracture.
Results
Of the 84 cases included in this analysis, 10 had a delayed return to work. There was a statistically significant risk of delayed return to work when combined plating was used as the surgical method, with an odds ratio of 7.454 (95% confidence interval: 1.362–40.804, p = 0.021) in the final multivariate analysis.
Conclusions
Sick leave is an important contributor to total costs in patients with DRF, and more invasive treatments like combined plating are associated with longer sick leave. Our results indicate a higher risk of delayed return to work in the combined plating group, possibly due to more extensive soft tissue dissection. We recommend a restrictive use of combined plating.
Trial registration:
The study was registered in the Swedish research database FoU in Sweden (registration number: 274674) on the 4th of August 2020.