Patient-Reported Outcomes after Distal Radius Fractures Differ Across Geographic and Cultural Populations: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Robert E Bilodeau, Rishabh S Bhadouriya, Craig E Klinger et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis examined whether patient-reported outcomes after volar locking-plate fixation of adult distal radius fractures varied across cultural and geographic populations. It included randomized controlled trials published from 2010 to 2023, with 52 treatment arms contributing DASH data, 33 PRWE, and 23 VAS. Scores showed significant heterogeneity across studies for all three measures (P < 0.01), and pooled scores differed significantly among the cultural regions represented in each analysis (P < 0.01). The authors conclude that outcomes from one cultural region may not be globally generalizable.
Key findings
- DASH scores varied significantly across studies and among nine cultural regions (P < 0.01).
- PRWE scores varied significantly across studies and among seven cultural regions (P < 0.01).
- VAS scores varied significantly across studies and among eight cultural regions (P < 0.01).
Why it matters
Patient-reported measures are used to assess recovery after distal radius fracture fixation, but this analysis indicates that scores may differ across cultural and geographic contexts. Such variation matters when interpreting pooled evidence, comparing outcomes between populations, or applying results from studies conducted in one region to patients elsewhere. It also highlights the importance of context when evaluating patient-reported outcomes.
What to keep in mind
The review included only English-language trials with sufficient extractable data, which may limit the populations represented. The abstract does not report pooled score estimates or the magnitude of regional differences.