Above-versus Below-elbow Casting for Conservative Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures

NCT ID: NCT03126175

Last Updated: 2019-12-10

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

128 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2018-04-02

Study Completion Date

2019-12-09

Brief Summary

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For the non-surgical treatment of distal radius fractures in adults a variety cast options are available, including or not the elbow joint. The literature is inconclusive regarding the need to immobilize the elbow joint after reduction of the distal radius fracture.This study was undertaken to evaluate the best method of immobilization between the above and below-elbow cast groups at the end of 6 months of follow-up.

Detailed Description

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To determine the best method of immobilization ( below elbow versus above elbow splint) in patients with distal radius fractures at the end of 6 months of follow-up:

* Type of study: Prospective, randomized and controlled trial.
* Patient recruitment: Adults attended in emergency room with closed acute displaced distal radius fracture will be reduced under general venous anesthesia with fluoroscopic control.

Displaced and reducible fractures (after venous anesthesia) will be included if one of these conditions is present: Radial height - loss \> 2 mm , radial Inclination- loss \> 4°, dorsal tilt - \> 10°, ulnar variance - loss \> 3 mm, intra-articular step off or gap - \> 2mm . The contralateral side will be used as a reference.

The eligible participants will be informed about the nature and purpose of the study by reading the "Informed Consent Term" after ageeement, patients will included in the trial and randomized.

* Maintenace of reduction will be defined as the maintenance of the parameters listed above.
* Patients with above elbow immobilization will remain for 4 weeks with splint followed by 2 weeks of below elbow immobilization. The immobilization will be removed with 6 weeks.
* The primary outcome is: maintenance of reduction by evaluation of radiographic parameters (wrist radiographs) at one, two, three, four, six, eight, twelve and twenty four weeks after fracture reduction and self-reported function assessment Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire(DASH).
* Secondary outcomes:Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation- PRWE. Pain (VAS - "Visual Analogue Pain Scale"). Objective functional evaluation (goniometry and dynamometry) and rate of complications and failures.
* Sample Size calculation was calculated based on data derived from one recent randomized clinical trial on the subject. We considered as relevant differences on DASH scores (clinically relevant) when scores are greater than 10 points and standard deviation 15 points. To detect this difference (Student T-test) and statistical power of 95% resulted in a 58 patient sample size per group. We considered an extra 10% for balancing follow up losses. Thus, our inclusion target will be 64 patients per group. We considered the test as bicaudal.

Benefits: Below elbow splinting is easier to apply, lower cost, more comfortable and permits better function for daily life activity.

Conditions

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Distal Radius Fracture

Keywords

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conservative treatment, treatment outcome

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Parallel Assignment
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

open label

Study Groups

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Above elbow immobilization

Above elbow immobililization with short radial splint that will be performed with 20cm wide gypsum cut to fit the thumb. The splint will be applied to the radial aspect of the wrist covering the volar and dorsal portion of the radius to the elbow. Additional splint with a 15cm width splint on the ulnar aspect of the forearm that begins at the middle of the forearm and extends into the armpit.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Above elbow immobilization

Intervention Type DEVICE

20cm wide gypsum in the forearm cut to fit the thumb associated a elbow splint made with a 15cm width on the ulnar aspect of the forearm that begins at the middle of the forearm and extends into the armpit.

Below elbow immobilization

Below elbow immobilization with exclusively short radial splint that will be performed with 20cm wide gypsum cut to fit the thumb. The splint will be applied to the radial aspect of the wrist covering the volar and dorsal portion of the radius to the elbow.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Below elbow immobilization

Intervention Type DEVICE

20cm wide gypsum in the forearm cut to fit the thumb.

Interventions

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Below elbow immobilization

20cm wide gypsum in the forearm cut to fit the thumb.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Above elbow immobilization

20cm wide gypsum in the forearm cut to fit the thumb associated a elbow splint made with a 15cm width on the ulnar aspect of the forearm that begins at the middle of the forearm and extends into the armpit.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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Plaster immobilization with elbow free (Below elbow) Plater immobilization including elbow (Above elbow)

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adults with growth plate closured, both gender, with closed acute displaced distal radius fracture (up to 1 week), associated or not with the ulnar styloid fractures with no other fractures, which may be closed reduced after intravenous anesthesia. No previous fractures to the ipsilateral or contralateral forearm.
* Displaced and reducible fractures (after venous anesthesia) classified by AO as type A2, A3, C1, C2 and C3.

Exclusion Criteria

* Open fractures.
* Vascular ou neurological compromise
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

100 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Federal University of São Paulo

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hospital Dr. Fernando Mauro Pires da Rocha

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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João Carlos Belloti, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Federal University of São Paulo

Locations

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Hospital Municipal Dr. Fernando Mauro Pires da Rocha

São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Site Status

Countries

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Brazil

References

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Bunger C, Solund K, Rasmussen P. Early results after Colles' fracture: functional bracing in supination vs dorsal plaster immobilization. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg (1978). 1984;103(4):251-6. doi: 10.1007/BF00387330.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 6391415 (View on PubMed)

Bong MR, Egol KA, Leibman M, Koval KJ. A comparison of immediate postreduction splinting constructs for controlling initial displacement of fractures of the distal radius: a prospective randomized study of long-arm versus short-arm splinting. J Hand Surg Am. 2006 May-Jun;31(5):766-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2006.01.016.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16713840 (View on PubMed)

Stewart HD, Innes AR, Burke FD. Functional cast-bracing for Colles' fractures. A comparison between cast-bracing and conventional plaster casts. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1984 Nov;66(5):749-53. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.66B5.6389558.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 6389558 (View on PubMed)

Bohm ER, Bubbar V, Yong Hing K, Dzus A. Above and below-the-elbow plaster casts for distal forearm fractures in children. A randomized controlled trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006 Jan;88(1):1-8. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.E.00320.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16391243 (View on PubMed)

Pool C. Colles's fracture. A prospective study of treatment. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1973 Aug;55(3):540-4. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 4125714 (View on PubMed)

Sarmiento A, Pratt GW, Berry NC, Sinclair WF. Colles' fractures. Functional bracing in supination. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1975 Apr;57(3):311-7.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 1123382 (View on PubMed)

Okamura A, de Mendonca GM, Raduan Neto J, de Moraes VY, Faloppa F, Belloti JC. Above-versus below-elbow casting for conservative treatment of distal radius fractures: a randomized controlled trial and study protocol. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2018 Mar 27;19(1):92. doi: 10.1186/s12891-018-2007-9.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 29587687 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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Above X below-elbow casting

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id