Babatunde OO, Bucknall M, Burton C, et al. - Presence of pain and functional limitation > 6 months after a wrist fracture was observed in a high proportion of people aged over 50 years, and this resulted in increased healthcare expenses and decreased quality of life. Exploratory evidence was identified for various candidate prognostic factors.

• A total of 78 prospective/retrospective cohort studies of patients (≥ 50 years) (n = 688,041 patients) with a history of wrist fracture and reporting long-term (≥ 6 months) outcomes were obtained from five databases.

• Persistence of moderate to severe pain (range: 7.5%-62%) and functional limitations (range: 5.5–78%) up to 12-months or later post-wrist fracture was experienced by patients.

• At 6-months to 13-years observation, mean Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation score for pain and function (9 studies, n = 1,759 patients) was estimated to be 15.23 (95%CI 12.77, 17.69).

• At 6- to 17-months follow-up, mean disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score (9 studies, n = 1,346 patients) was noted to be 13.82 (95%CI 12.71, 14.93).

• In the first 12-months post-fracture, a 10–20% increment in healthcare encounters was noted.

• Overall 12 prognostic factors were related to poor long-term results.