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Trial details imported from ClinicalTrials.gov

For full trial details, please see the original record at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00809861




Registration number
NCT00809861
Ethics application status
Date submitted
16/12/2008
Date registered
17/12/2008
Date last updated
29/05/2014

Titles & IDs
Public title
Volar Locking Plate Versus External Fixator/Cast Fixation for the Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures
Scientific title
Volar Locking Plate Versus External Fixator/Cast Fixation for the Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures. A Randomised Controlled Prospective Study
Secondary ID [1] 0 0
DCDRS00407
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
Trial acronym
Linked study record

Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
Distal Radius Fractures 0 0
Condition category
Condition code
Injuries and Accidents 0 0 0 0
Fractures
Musculoskeletal 0 0 0 0
Other muscular and skeletal disorders

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Interventional
Description of intervention(s) / exposure
Treatment: Surgery - volar locking plating
Treatment: Surgery - external immobilisation

Active Comparator: 1 - volar locking plating of distal radius fractures

Active Comparator: 2 -


Treatment: Surgery: volar locking plating
open reduction and internal fixation

Treatment: Surgery: external immobilisation
closed reduction and external fixation
Intervention code [1] 0 0
Treatment: Surgery
Comparator / control treatment
Control group

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 0 0
20% difference in DASH scores
Timepoint [1] 0 0
twelve weeks
Secondary outcome [1] 0 0
return to work
Timepoint [1] 0 0
twelve weeks

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
- distal radius fracture

- age > 18
Minimum age
18 Years
Maximum age
No limit
Sex
Both males and females
Can healthy volunteers participate?
No
Key exclusion criteria
- intellectual or mental impairment

- < 18 years of age

Study design
Purpose of the study
Treatment
Allocation to intervention
Randomised controlled trial
Procedure for enrolling a subject and allocating the treatment (allocation concealment procedures)
Methods used to generate the sequence in which subjects will be randomised (sequence generation)
Masking / blinding
Open (masking not used)
Who is / are masked / blinded?



Intervention assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Phase
Not Applicable
Type of endpoint/s
Statistical methods / analysis

Recruitment
Recruitment status
Completed
Data analysis
Reason for early stopping/withdrawal
Other reasons
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
1/08/2008
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
Actual
1/12/2013
Sample size
Target
Accrual to date
Final
52
Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
QLD
Recruitment hospital [1] 0 0
Mackay Base Hospital - Mackay
Recruitment postcode(s) [1] 0 0
4740 - Mackay

Funding & Sponsors
Primary sponsor type
Other
Name
Mackay Base Hospital
Address
Country
Other collaborator category [1] 0 0
Other
Name [1] 0 0
James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
Address [1] 0 0
Country [1] 0 0

Ethics approval
Ethics application status

Summary
Brief summary
Aim: Osteosynthesis with locking plate/screws has become increasingly popular in recent
years. It is the only treatment option which allows immediate postoperative immobilization.
However, compared to conservative treatment or treatment with external fixators, locking
plates are very expensive and the operation can be very challenging, even for experienced
surgeons. The long-term results of all treatment modalities are equal, which has been shown
in numerous studies. However, there are no evidence based studies published yet which look at
short-term outcomes. The investigators do feel but do not know that patients who do not need
postoperative immobilization return to work significantly earlier or are independent faster
than patients whose wrists are immobilized for up to 6 weeks. If that is the case, then the
higher costs and risks of the operation are justified, if not, then we have to re-evaluate
our indications for using locking distal radius plates distal radius Methods: Group 1:
Treatment of distal radius fractures with either volar or dorsal locking plates. No fixation
postoperatively, immediate ROM (range of motion) exercises and usage of the wrist in
activities of daily life (ADL) allowed.

Radiological and clinical controls 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks postoperatively. Endpoints
are time to return to work / return to independency (in older people), ROM; Grip strength
(with Jamar Dynamometer).

Outcome scores are DASH (Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score)and PRWE (Patient related
wrist evaluation).

Group 2 Treatment of distal radius fractures with either an external fixator +/- K-wires or
with K-wires and forearm cast or by cast alone. Main issue is that the wrist is immobilized
for a period of 6 weeks. Radiological and clinical controls 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks
postoperatively. Endpoints are time to return to work / return to independency (in older
people), ROM; Grip strength (with Jamar Dynamometer). Outcome scores are DASH and PRWE. Both
plating and external fixation / cast fixation are standard and accepted treatment modalities
for distal radius fractures. A power analysis indicated that a total sample size of 52
patients randomized equally (1:1) to each treatment arm without any blocking or
stratification would provide 80 % statistical power (alpha = .05, beta = .20) to detect a 20%
difference in mean DASH and PRWE scores.
Trial website
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00809861
Trial related presentations / publications
Public notes

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 0 0
Herwig Drobetz, MD
Address 0 0
Mackay Base Hospital
Country 0 0
Phone 0 0
Fax 0 0
Email 0 0
Contact person for public queries
Name 0 0
Address 0 0
Country 0 0
Phone 0 0
Fax 0 0
Email 0 0
Contact person for scientific queries



Summary Results

For IPD and results data, please see https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00809861