Impact of early rehabilitation therapy on functional outcomes in patients post distal radius fracture surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis aims to investigate the efficacy of early rehabilitation on patients who have undergone surgery for distal radius fractures (DRFs) with palmar plating, focusing on multiple outcome measures including upper limb function, wrist function, back extension mobility, pain levels, and complications. A rigorous search strategy adhering to the PRISMA guidelines was employed across four major databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Studies were included based on stringent criteria, and data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers. Meta-analysis was conducted employing both fixed-effect and random-effects models as dictated by heterogeneity, assessed by the I statistic and chi-square tests. A total of 7 studies, encompassing diverse demographic groups and timelines, were included for the final analysis. The meta-analysis disclosed that early rehabilitation yielded a statistically significant improvement in upper limb function (SMD -0.27; 95% CI -0.48 to -0.07; P