Volar Plating or External Fixation of Dorsally Displaced Fractures of the Distal Radius?

Volar Plating or External Fixation of Dorsally Displaced Fractures of the Distal Radius? A Prospective Randomized Study

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00989222

Enrollment

Registered

2009-10-05

Start date

2006-01-31

Completion date

2009-06-30

Last updated

2009-10-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Radius Fractures

Keywords

Distal radius fractures, Fractures of the distal radius, Volar plate, External fixation

Brief summary

Promising results have been reported after volar locked plating of unstable dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius. It offers stable fixation and early mobilization. The investigators' aim is to test if volar locked plating results in better patient-perceived, objective functional and radiological outcomes compared to the less invasive external fixation that has been the standard operation for decades.

Interventions

PROCEDUREclosed reduction and external fixation

Fixation of an unstable dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius with bridging external fixation

PROCEDUREInternal fixation with a volar locked plate

Open reduction and fixation of a unstable dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius with a volar locked plate

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

20 Years to 70 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* An acute unilateral Colles' fracture (AO class A and C1) with a dorsal angulation of more than 20 degrees or radial shortening of 4 mm or more, AND * Patient aged 20-70 years with no previous fracture of either wrist.

Exclusion criteria

* Bilateral fractures, * Other current injury to the upper extremities, * Dementia, OR * Severe comminution or too small distal fragment to allow plating.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
PRWE (patient rated wrist evaluation) score	3,6 and 12 months

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Objective function (range of movement and grip strength)	3,6 and 12 months

Countries

Sweden

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026