Subject: Distal Radius Fractures - Functional Score

Date: Wed, 5 Jun 2002 07:47:37 -0700 (PDT)

From: Zsolt Balogh

I would like to ask the List members' opinion about your preferred functional scoring system after distal radius fractures.

Thank you very much.

Zsolt Balogh, MD
Trauma Surgeon

Date: Wed, 05 Jun 2002 12:37:32 -0400

From: William Obremsky

Several have been used Gartland and Werley, Green and O'Brien, Cooney). None of these have been scientifically developed or validated. Dr. Swiontkowski and I wrote the Functional Outcome Chapter in the next Browner and Jupiter "Skeletal Trauma" textbook. I would recommend an SF-36 if you want to show general health effect and be able to compare across injuries and diseases: the SMFA (short musculoskeletal functional assessment) questionaire if you want an overall musculoskeletal score (it has an upper extremity questions): the DASH for only upper extremity function. All of these are validated and have population norms available. The DASH and SMFA are avialable on the AAOS web site.

Bill Obremskey MD MPH