Evaluating the Impact of Physical Therapy on Wrist Fracture Patients Treated with Volar Locking Plates

Introduction: Distal radius fractures are among the most frequent musculoskeletal injuries, accounting for over 17% of fractures treated in emergency care centers. The primary objective is to promote healing and restore the pre-injury level of functionality. Treatment generally involves two phases: initial care and definitive surgery, where volar locking plates are used to stabilize fractures, presenting a low risk of complications. Personalized rehabilitation plans are crucial in this context. Objective: This retrospective study aims to investigate the influence of physical therapy on patients who underwent surgery involving a volar locking plate after sustaining wrist fractures. Materials and Methods: The research covers 63 patients who underwent surgery for distal radius fractures. Following initial care at the Emergency Center of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina, patients received rehabilitation treatment either at the clinic for rehabilitation in the clinical center of Vojovdina or as an outpatient service at the Health Center in Novi Sad. Data were collected included patient socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender and so on, clinical parameters encompassing diagnosis and treatment method, and the use of the PRWE (Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation) score. Results: The average patient age was 50.87 ± 14.96 years. Left wrist fractures were more common. Falling was identified as the leading cause of wrist fractures. The average PRWE score in the sample was 18.97, indicative of mild difficulties. Among the patients, 51 (81%) received physical therapy for an average of 10.17 days. Most patients (87%) successfully returned to their jobs, while some opted for career changes (5%) or retirement (8%). Conclusion: The treatment of distal radius fractures utilizing volar locking plates combined with appropriate physical therapy represents an effective approach, resulting in comprehensive functional recovery in daily life activities and professional pursuits.