Trial reportActa orthopaedica2011
Wrist function recovers more rapidly after volar locked plating than after external fixation but the outcomes are similar after 1 year.
Trial report in Acta orthopaedica, 2011. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
48 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 130 citations in OpenAlex.
- Volar locking plate versus external fixation for unstable distal radius fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2021Pooled it
- What Is the Relative Effectiveness of the Various Surgical Treatment Options for Distal Radius Fractures? A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Clinical orthopaedics and related research · 2021Pooled it
- Is volar locking plate superior to external fixation for distal radius fractures? A comprehensive meta-analysis.Acta orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica · 2018Pooled it
- Internal Versus External Fixation for the Treatment of Distal Radial Fractures: A Systematic Review of Overlapping Meta-Analyses.Medicine · 2016Pooled it
- Health status and (health-related) quality of life during the recovery of distal radius fractures: a systematic review.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2013Pooled it
- Comparison of internal and external fixation of distal radius fractures.Acta orthopaedica · 2013Pooled it
- A comparative study of variable angle volar plate and bridging external fixator with K-wire augmentation in comminuted distal radius fractures.Chinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi · 2021Trial
- Assessment of Distal Radius Fracture Complications Among Adults 60 Years or Older: A Secondary Analysis of the WRIST Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2019Trial
- External fixation versus volar locking plate for displaced intra-articular distal radius fractures: a prospective randomized comparative study of the functional outcomes.Journal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology · 2014Trial
- Article
- Association of Radiological Parameters to Functional Outcomes after Distal Radius Fracture Fixation with Volar Locking Plate: A Prospective Cohort Study.Malaysian orthopaedic journal · 2025Article
- Finite element analysis for LCP plates.Journal of orthopaedics · 2025Article
- Complications after volar plate synthesis for distal radius fractures.EFORT open reviews · 2024Article
- Is fracture management merely a physical process? Exploring the psychological effects of internal and external fixation.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024Article
- Long-term outcome for patients with distal radius fractures treated with volar locking plates versus percutaneous wires.PloS one · 2024Article
- Are external fixators as effective as volar plates in multi-fragmented radius distal intra-articular fractures (AO type C)?European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2023Article
- Association of Open Reduction and Internal Fixation With Volar Locking Plate for Distal Radius Fractures With Patient-Reported Outcomes in Older Adults: A Network Meta-analysis.JAMA network open · 2023Article
- Complete median nerve axonotmesis as a late postoperative complication in distal radius fracture.Journal of surgical case reports · 2023Article
- A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Various Treatment Options for Distal Radius Fractures.Journal of hand surgery global online · 2023Article
- Grip Strength Measurement for Outcome Assessment in Common Hand Surgeries.Clinics in orthopedic surgery · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
background and purposePromising results have been reported after volar locked plating of unstable dorsally displaced distal radius fractures. We investigated whether volar locked plating results in better patient-perceived, objective functional and radiographic outcomes compared to the less invasive external fixation. PATIENTS AND
methods63 patients under 70 years of age, with an unstable extra-articular or non-comminuted intra-articular dorsally displaced distal radius fracture, were randomized to volar locked plating (n = 33) or bridging external fixation. Patient-perceived outcome was assessed with the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) questionnaire.
resultsAt 3 and 6 months, the volar plate group had better DASH and PRWE scores but at 12 months the scores were similar. Objective function, measured as grip strength and range of movement, was superior in the volar plate group but the differences diminished and were small at 12 months. Axial length and volar tilt were retained slightly better in the volar plate group.
interpretationVolar plate fixation is more advantageous than external fixation, in the early rehabilitation period.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.