Comparison of upper extremity fracture impairment and disability in operative and none-operative intervention groups

Upper extremity fractures are one of the most common fractures of musculoskeletal system. Medical interventions used for this fractures are "operative" and "none-operative". The main purpose of the present study was investigating fracture impairment and disability in two groups of operative and none-operative interventions.
In the present descriptive study, 70 adults with upper extremity fracture were selected based on convenience sampling. Participants were then divided into two groups of "operative" (34 participants) and "none-operative" groups (36 participants). Impairment rate and disability score, evaluated using AMA guides (6th ed.) and DASH, respectively, were compared in the two groups. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (v. 19) through running independent t-test (p There was a significant difference in impairment rate between the two groups of operative and none operative interventions, but no significant difference was observed in the disability score between the two groups.
The results of the present study showed that impairment of none-operative fractures was less than that of the operative group. Since AMA is designed based on ICF, according to findings, it was observed to be a better and more comprehensive tool compared with DASH. Also, the results of the present study can be used for fracture management by rehabilitation clinicians.