A Structured Literature Synthesis to Identify Measures for Screening for the Risk of Adverse Outcomes in Individuals Following Distal Radius Fracture

Previous research has indicated the need to screen for the risk for falls and fall-related fragility fractures following distal radius fracture (DRF) but has not specifically described how to do so. The objective of this review was to perform a systematic literature synthesis to derive a battery of measures to screen for the risk for falls and fall-related fractures in individuals with DRF. Using a systematic literature search and predefined inclusion criteria, this review identified selected measures that reflect the best evidence for the context for assessing these risks among patients with DRF. The results of this review indicate that the Activity-specific Balance Confidence Scale and the Timed Up and Go Test have established psychometric properties and good potential for screening individuals with DRF who fear falling and have a balance impairment, respectively. The FRAX tool is suggested for computing the 10-year risk of hip fracture and a major osteoporotic fracture. Further research to validate the measures identified in this review is recommended.