Digital Aftercare for Wrist and Clavicle Fractures

Summary

This prospective, two-arm, open-label clinical trial compares digital aftercare with traditional follow-up in adult patients after surgical treatment of uncomplicated distal radius or clavicle fractures. The primary objective is to assess functional recovery at three months, using the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) for wrist fractures and the QuickDASH for clavicle fractures. Secondary outcomes include range of motion, patient satisfaction, quality of life, complication rates, healthcare costs, and work disability. In the digital aftercare group, program adherence and user experience will also be evaluated through app usage data and a structured questionnaire. The study aims to determine whether digital aftercare is a clinically and economically equivalent alternative to standard in-person care.

Conditions

• Distal Radius Fracture
• Clavicle Fracture
• Postoperative Care
• Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs)
• Upper Extremity Fractures

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Digital Aftercare

A structured, app-based digital aftercare program designed for patients recovering from distal radius or clavicle fractures. The 12-week program includes weekly video-guided physiotherapy exercises, educational content on fracture healing, pain management guidance, and milestone-based progression. The program replaces in-person physiotherapy and standard clinic follow-up, with patients instructed to follow the app independently. Medical contact is initiated only in case of uncertainty or complications.

BEHAVIORAL

Traditional Aftercare

Standard postoperative follow-up care for patients with distal radius or clavicle fractures, consisting of scheduled clinical visits and in-person physiotherapy sessions according to institutional protocols. The treatment includes individual exercise instruction, physiotherapy, and physician-led follow-up at defined intervals during the 12-week rehabilitation period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Johnson & Johnson

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Luzerner Kantonsspital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Frank Beeres, Prof. MD · Luzerner Kantonsspital

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-01

Primary Completion

2026-12-31

Completion

2027-03-31

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations