The permanent disability rating of 13% in a Colles fracture case is based on which comparison?

• A. Grip strength comparison between the injured and uninjured hands
• B. Comparison of wrist circumference
• C. Radiographic alignment alone
• D. Patient-reported pain scores

Answer: (A)

Permanent disability ratings for hand injuries are driven by how much function is lost, not just what the bone looks like on X-ray. The standard way to quantify that loss is by comparing grip strength of the injured wrist to the uninjured wrist. A measured drop in grip strength provides the impairment percentage, so a 13% rating in a Colles fracture case comes from this strength comparison between the two hands. Radiographs show healing and alignment but don’t tell you how much the hand can actually grip or perform tasks. Wrist circumference mainly reflects swelling or tissue size, not functional impairment. Pain scores describe symptom burden but aren’t the primary basis for determining the permanent disability percentage.