Riassunto dello studio

One hundred two patients with distal radial fractures treated with anterior plating were randomized to receive either a home-based exercise program alone (n=29), a home-based exercise program combined with low-frequency (four sessions) clinic-based hand therapy (n=32), or a home-based exercise program combined with high-frequency (seven sessions) clinic-based hand therapy (n=33). The primary outcome was the PRWE score at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes included grip strength, range of motion (ROM), pain scores, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) scores, adherence to the home-based program, and complications. Outcomes were assessed at 6 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Overall, the study found that high-frequency clinic-based therapy resulted in significantly better PRWE scores and grip strength at 6 weeks compared to the home-based program alone, but the difference was no longer significant at 12 weeks. These findings suggest that adding frequent clinic-based therapy to a home exercise program may facilitate earlier functional recovery but does not provide long-term advantages.