Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Health-Related Quality of Life Instruments in School-Age Children with Upper Limb Fractures: A Scoping Review

Objective: Upper limb fractures are common in children, yet the selection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for research remains inconsistent. This scoping review maps the use of PROMs and health-related quality of life (HRQL) instruments in school-age children with upper limb fractures, evaluates their psychometric properties, and assesses their coverage of pediatric-relevant outcome domains.Material and Methods: This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and is reported in accordance with the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Six databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched from 2000 to 2025. Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed psychometric evidence by using COSMIN guidelines. Instruments were mapped onto the CORE-Kids multidimensional quality-of-life framework.Results: From 2,847 records, 68 studies were included, identifying 18 distinct PROMs. The QuickDASH was most frequently used (41% of studies), followed by PROMIS Upper Extremity (18%), PODCI (15%), and PedsQL (13%). Psychometric evidence was strongest for PROOF-UE, but critical gaps existed: 90% of instruments lacked content validity studies, and 80% lacked measurement error data. Domain mapping revealed major gaps in emotional well-being (18% coverage) and social functioning (14%), with critical gaps in school/learning (9%) and overall life satisfaction (5%).Conclusion: Despite the availability of multiple PROMs, significant gaps in psychometric and content validity persist. Commonly used instruments inadequately assess emotional, social, and school-related outcomes. A multi-measure approach that combines physical function, comprehensive quality-of-life, and psychological outcome tools is recommended for clinical and research practice