Optional Follow-up Visits for Common, Low-risk Arm Fractures

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Many common arm fractures have an excellent prognosis with little more than symptomatic treatment. When studying these fractures, investigators find that a substantial number of patients do not attend follow-up appointments. The difficulty of maneuvering in big cities, the cost of parking, the co-pay for the visit and the wait times for x-ray and doctor are all inconveniences that some patients might prefer to avoid. Building on prior research, it is appropriate to offer patients with common minor upper extremity fractures that have an excellent prognosis optional follow-up after the first visit. The plan would be to be available by phone, email and subsequent appointment at the patient's discretion if they felt that the recovery was off course. Benefit to individual participants is unlikely. The study will benefit the society as a whole, by providing a better understanding of these common fractures. It can also affect the economics of our health system by avoiding further follow-up appointments. Primary null hypothesis: There is no difference in patient outcome 2-6 months after injury between patients that return for a second visit, and patients that do not. Secondary null hypothesis: There is no difference in patient satisfaction 2-6 months after injury between patients that return for a second visit, and patients that do not.

Detailed Description
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This study will employ a prospective, non-randomized design. After the questionnaires are filled the patients choose whether or not to schedule a second appointment for evaluation of their fracture: The first group will be scheduled for a second visit (standard treatment). The alternative (Optional follow-up) will be to take a handout describing the recovery and providing instructions for how to contact us should they get off course. Since it is up to the subject to decide whether or not he or she wants a second appointment or the brochure, it is observational rather than interventional. Evaluation: 2-6 months after injury all patients (independent of group) will be contacted by either phone or email by a blinded research assistant and asked to provide the following: pain with NRS (scale 0-10); three satisfaction questions; disability with use of Quick DASH; and if they returned to modified and regular work. Patients in the standard group A will return to the Hand and Upper Extremity Service for their usual practice follow-up examination 1-3 months after treatment.

Official Title
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Optional Follow-up Visits for Common, Low-risk Arm Fractures

Conditions
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Mallet Fracture, Metacarpal Fracture, Metacarpal Neck Fracture, Distal Radius Fracture, Radial Head Fracture

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: adult (>18 years) English-speaking fracture with an excellent prognosis such as: nondisplaced mallet fracture stable, well-aligned metacarpal fracture all small finger metacarpal neck fractures non- or minimally displaced distal radius fracture treated in a removable splint isolated minimally displaced radial head fracture involving the radial neck or part of the articular surface Exclusion Criteria: pregnant women no written informed consent

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Standard treatment<br>This study will employ a prospective, non-randomized design. After the questionnaires are filled the patients choose whether or not to schedule a second appointment for evaluation of their fracture: The first group will be scheduled for a second visit (standard treatment) as our daily practice after 1-3 months. They will be contacted after 2-6 months either by phone or email and will complete again some questionnaires (Quick DASH, satisfaction, return to work). | |
| Optional follow-up group<br>The alternative (Optional follow-up group) will be to take a handout describing the recovery and providing instructions for how to contact us should they get off course. The questionnaires will be repeated either by phone or email in 2-6 months. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disability with use of Quick DASH | The Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is used frequently in hand and upper extremity research to assess disability. The Quick DASH is the short version of the DASH consisting of 11 questions. http://www.dash.iwh.on.ca/system/files/quickdash_questionnaire_2010.pdf | Change from baseline at enrollment to follow-up at 2-6 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Satisfaction | The investigators measure the overall current patient satisfaction with an ordinal scale from 0 to 10, 0 being completely dissatisfied, 10 being completely satisfied. | Change from baseline at enrollment to follow-up at 2-6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Adult, English speaking, Fractures, Excellent prognosis, Upper Extremity