Evaluation of using grip strength and hand muscle cross-sectional area to predict secondary fractures post distal radius fracture

Summary Grip strength measurement, as a surrogate of sarcopenia diagnosis, effectively predicts secondary fracture risk in distal radius fracture patients. This simple tool enhances clinical practice by identifying high-risk patients for targeted interventions, potentially preventing or reversing functional decline and recurrent fractures. Purpose To evaluate grip strength and hand muscle cross-sectional area as predictors of secondary fracture risk in patients with a history of distal radius fracture (DRF), serving as surrogates of the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Methods A retrospective cohort study of 745 DRF patients was analyzed with their grip strength data using Cox proportional hazards regression, receiver operating characteristic analysis, and Kaplan–Meier analysis to predict secondary fracture risk over an average of 12 years. Hand muscle cross-sectional area was similarly analyzed. Results Patients with a history of DRF were predicted to have a 4.1% higher likelihood of experiencing a secondary fracture per kilogram reduction in their grip strength ( p