ISFR-IOF experts propose standardized measurements of clinical outcomes in wrist fractures

International consensus could immensely benefit clinical practice and study design in distal radius fracture research

2013-06-26

(Press-News.org) Distal radius fractures (often simply termed wrist or Colles' fractures) are the second most common fractures in the elderly. Beyond the immediate impact on the patient, wrist fractures in older adults often indicate underlying osteoporosis and high risk of subsequent fragility fractures.

Despite their clinical significance, evidence-based practice and clinical research on wrist fractures are hampered by the lack of standardized methods of outcome measurement. A new publication* by the Distal Radius Working Group of the International Society for Fracture Repair (ISFR) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) makes important new recommendations in an effort to promote international consensus.

"In regard to distal radius fractures there is currently no agreed-upon definition of what should be measured in a clinical trial. As a result, researchers are faced with heterogeneous information - a serious barrier to high-quality research in the evaluation of outcomes or definition of intervention thresholds," said Dr. Jörg Goldhahn, Lecturer at the Institute for Biomechanics of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich and President-Elect of the ISFR.

The IOF-ISFR Working Group used a methodological approach to arrive at a comprehensive foundation of content for outcomes. The absence of pain and restoration of function was agreed as the common treatment goals and foci for clinical measures. There was also a consensus that symptom and function should be measured as separate domains in the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Seven core recommendations were made:

1. pain and function are regarded as the primary domains; 2. very brief measures are needed for routine administration in clinical practice; 3. these brief measures could be augmented by additional measures that provide more detail or address additional domains for clinical research; 4. measurement of pain should include measures of both intensity and frequency as core attributes; 5. a numeric pain scale, e.g. visual analogue scale or visual numeric scale or the pain subscale of the patient-reported wrist evaluation (PRWE) questionnaires were identified as reliable, valid and feasible measures to measure these concepts; 6. for function, either the Quick Disability of the arm, shoulder and hand questionnaire or PRWE-function subscale was identified as reliable, valid and feasible measures, and 7. a measure of participation and treatment complications should be considered core outcomes for both clinical practice and research.

Professor Cyrus Cooper, Chair of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors, welcomed the Working Group's recommendations and urged their implementation by clinicians and researchers around the world. "A standardised approach to identifying a minimal core set of domains in the assessment of wrist fracture patients will immensely benefit both study designs and clinical practice; the International Osteoporosis Foundation welcomes this development." he said.

### *Recommendation for measuring clinical outcome in distal radius fractures: a core set of domains for standardized reporting in clinical practice and research Jörg Goldhahn, Dorcas Beaton, Amy Ladd, Joy Macdermid, Amy Hoang-Kim. On behalf of the Distal Radius Working Group of ISFR and IOF Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. DOI 10.1007/s00402-013-1767-9 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00402-013-1767-9

About IOF The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members, including committees of scientific researchers, leading companies, as well as more than 200 patient, medical and research societies, work together to make bone, joint and muscle health a worldwide heath care priority. Visit http://www.iofbonehealth.org for information about IOF and its scientific meetings, including the IOF-ESCEO World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases to be held in Seville, Spain on April 2-5, 2014.

About ISFR Since 1987, when the International Society for Fracture Repair (ISFR) was founded by Professor Hans K. Uhthoff, MD, the society has a history of active development and expansion. Currently, the ISFR comprises some 200 members and different societies who are engaged in the interchange of science of fracture repair and its application to the improvement of patient care. ISFR holds a number of meeting activities to bring advancement in fracture related topics: biennial conferences, symposia, workshops and working groups. Visit http://www.fractures.com for details on our next biennial conference to be held in New York, NY, May 14-17, 2014.

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