Volar Locking Plate vs Fragment Specific Fixation in Wrist Fractures

Region Skane

Status

Completed

Conditions

Distal Radius Fractures

Treatments

Procedure: Open reduction and fixation with TriMed fragment-specific system

Procedure: Open reduction and fixation with TriMed volar locking plate

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01311531

ETIK 2009/318

Details and patient eligibility

About

The treatment of unstable, non-reducible distal radial fractures is still controversial. The aim of the present study is to compare the subjective, clinical and radiographic outcome of the TriMed fragment-specific system with a volar locking plate in patients with unstable, non-reducible and also redislocated distal radial fractures.

Full description

The distal radial fracture is one of the most common fractures, with an annual incidence in southern Sweden of 26 per 10,000 inhabitants (Brogren et al. 2007). Non-surgical treatment, predominantly plaster cast or simple splints, comprises the basic treatment in non-displaced fractures, as well as in displaced, but reducible fractures (Handoll and Madhok 2003). In the unstable, non-reducible distal radial fractures, surgical treatment is necessary but can be complex. The choice of method is still controversial (Chen and Jupiter 2007), especially regarding the result over time (Downing and Karantana 2008). External fixation has been the preferred method of operation for decades, but with the introduction of the volar locking plate technique, internal fixation has rapidly become more and more popular, without any solid foundation in the evidence-based medicine (Margaliot et al. 2005).

We have shown in a randomized study that open reduction and internal fixation of distal radial fractures using the TriMed fragment-specific system resulted in better grip strength and forearm rotation at 1-year follow up than closed reduction and bridging external fixation (Abramo et al. 2009). Later we followed up the same cohort at a mean of 5-years, with the primary aim of determining whether the superior results of internal fixation in unstable distal radial fractures persist over time. The conclusion of this study was that, internal fixation is better than external fixation regarding grip strength and forearm rotation at 1-year but the difference disappears at the 5-year follow-up as both groups approach normal values (Landgren et al. submitted in 2010).

The aim of the present study is to compare the subjective, clinical and radiographic outcome of the TriMed fragment-specific system with a volar locking plate in patients with unstable, non-reducible and also redislocated distal radial fractures. The patients who meet all eligibility criteria and provide consent to participate will be randomly assigned to reduction and fixation with either volar locking plate or Trimed fragment-specific system. Patients will undergo physiotherapy, clinical evaluation, radiographic evaluation at fixed intervals and will also include QuickDASH, VAS, SF-12 and EQ5D. There will be 25 patients in each arm and the patients will be followed for 12 months.

Enrollment

50 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 70 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

AO type A or C fracture, unstable and non-reducible at day of trauma.
AO type A or C fracture, redislocated at the 14 day clinical and radiological control.
Incongruent RC-joint or DRU-joint and/or axial compression > 2 mm and/or dorsal compression 20°.

Exclusion criteria

Previous fracture of the same wrist
Volar Barton fractures (AO Type B)
Fracture on the other side or other concomitant fracture that also needs treatment.
Open fracture
Fracture expansion to the diaphysis
Ongoing chemo- or radiotherapy
Metabolic diseases that affect the bone
Dementia, mental illness, alcohol abuse or difficulty understanding the language