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NCT Number: NCT07055139

Digital Aftercare for Wrist and Clavicle Fractures

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Distal Radius Fracture Arm Injuries Behavior Clavicle Fracture Fractures, Bone Health Behavior Patient Satisfaction Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) Postoperative Care Treatment Adherence and Compliance Upper Extremity Fractures Wounds and Injuries Wrist Fractures Wrist Injuries

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Luzerner Kantonsspital

Lucerne, Canton of Lucerne, 6000, Switzerland

Location contact

Bryan van de Wall, MD, PhD

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Carlos Torrez, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

0041 76 822 13 16

Carlos Torrez, MD

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Frank Beeres, Prof. MD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

About this study

This is a prospective, open-label, two-arm clinical trial designed to compare digital aftercare with traditional in-person follow-up in adult patients (aged 18-65) who have undergone uncomplicated surgical treatment for distal radius or clavicle fractures.

Participants in the digital aftercare group receive a structured, app-based rehabilitation program over 12 weeks. The program includes video-guided physiotherapy exercises, educational content, and recovery milestones. Clinical follow-up and physiotherapy are replaced by the digital program, with medical consultations available only if clinically necessary. Adherence and user experience are tracked via app usage data and a structured questionnaire.

Participants in the traditional aftercare group receive standard postoperative care, including regular clinical follow-up visits and supervised physiotherapy sessions based on institutional guidelines.

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether digital aftercare results in equivalent functional outcomes compared to traditional follow-up. Functional recovery is assessed at 12 weeks using the QuickDASH (for clavicle fractures) and PRWE (for distal radius fractures).

Secondary outcomes include range of motion, patient satisfaction (VAS), quality of life (EQ-5D), complication rates (Clavien-Dindo classification), direct and indirect healthcare costs, return to work, and - in the digital group - program adherence and user feedback.

This study also aims to explore the cost-effectiveness of digital aftercare and its potential as a scalable alternative to traditional rehabilitation in selected fracture patients.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age between 18 and 65 years
  • Surgically treated, uncomplicated distal radius or clavicle fracture
  • Use of a smartphone (iOS or Android)
  • Ability to understand German and complete study-related questionnaires
  • Provided written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Polytrauma or additional injuries to the same upper extremity
  • No access to or inability to use a smartphone
  • Cognitive, psychiatric, or language barriers impairing participation
  • Pregnancy
  • Inability or unwillingness to comply with the study protocol

Treatment and study plan

Digital Aftercare

Behavioral

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.

Traditional Aftercare

Behavioral

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Functional Recovery at 12 Weeks (PRWE for distal radius)

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Functional outcome will be assessed using the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score. The PRWE is a validated questionnaire specifically designed to evaluate wrist function and pain. Scores range from 0 to 100, with lower scores indicating better functional outcomes.

  2. Functional Recovery at 12 Weeks (QuickDASH for clavicle)

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Functional outcome will be assessed using the QuickDASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand - Short Version) score. The QuickDASH is a validated tool to measure physical function and symptoms in people with any or multiple musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb. Scores range from 0 to 100, with lower scores indicating better function.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Range of Motion

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Goniometric assessment of wrist or shoulder range of motion in degrees, depending on fracture type.

  2. Patient Satisfaction

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Patient satisfaction measured using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS, 0-10), with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction.

  3. Health-Related Quality of Life

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Health-related quality of life will be measured using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. The EQ-5D-5L assesses five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Index scores typically range from less than 0 (where 0 represents a health state equivalent to death and negative values represent health states worse than death) to 1 (representing full health). Higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life.

  4. Complication Rates

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Surgical and postoperative complications classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification system.

  5. Healthcare Costs

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Direct and indirect healthcare costs associated with each aftercare modality, including physiotherapy, consultations, and work absence.

  6. Work Disability

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Duration of work absence stratified by job type (manual vs. non-manual work).

  7. User Experience with Digital Program (Digital Group Only)

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Assessed with a structured questionnaire on usability, satisfaction, and perceived helpfulness of the app-based program.

  8. Number of Completed Exercise Sessions in Digital Program (Digital Group Only)

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    Adherence to the digital rehabilitation program will be measured by the number of completed exercise sessions recorded via the app. One session is counted as completed when all scheduled exercises for a given day are marked as done by the user.

  9. Login Frequency in Digital Program (Digital Group Only)

    Time frame: 12 weeks postoperatively

    App usage will be monitored by tracking the total number of logins to the digital rehabilitation platform over the 12-week period. Each login is defined as a unique user access within a 24-hour window.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Bryan Van de Wall, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

Carlos Torrez, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

0041768221316

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Luzerner Kantonsspital

Other

Collaborators

  • Johnson & Johnson

Registry information

Official study title

Comparison of Digital Versus Traditional Aftercare for Uncomplicated Distal Radius and Clavicle Fractures

Acronym: DA-DRAC

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jul 8, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 8, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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