ArticleStrategies in trauma and limb reconstruction2013
Functional outcome in patients with unstable distal radius fractures, volar locking plate versus external fixation: a meta-analysis.
Article in Strategies in trauma and limb reconstruction, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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
26 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 84 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
- A systematic review of the quality of distal radius systematic reviews: Methodology and reporting assessment.PloS one · 2019Pooled it
- Locking plate versus external fixation for type C distal radius fractures: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Chinese journal of traumatology = Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi · 2018Pooled it
- Internal Versus External Fixation for the Treatment of Distal Radial Fractures: A Systematic Review of Overlapping Meta-Analyses.Medicine · 2016Pooled it
- Cast-OFF Trial: One Versus 4 to 5 Weeks of Plaster Cast Immobilization for Nonreduced Distal Radius Fractures: A Randomized Clinical Feasibility Trial.Hand (New York, N.Y.) · 2022Trial
- 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
- Intramedullary repair device against volar plating in the reconstruction of extra-articular and simple articular distal radius fractures; a randomized pilot study.International orthopaedics · 2014Trial
- A Comparative Prospective Study Between Ligamentotaxis Versus Volar Plating in Displaced Intra-articular Fractures of Distal End Radius in Adults.The archives of bone and joint surgery · 2026Article
- [Loss of Radial Height in Patients Undergoing Fixation with a Distal Volar Anatomical Locking Plate: A Retrospective Study in a Public Institution].Revista brasileira de ortopedia · 2025Article
- Loss of Radial Height in Patients Undergoing Fixation with a Distal Volar Anatomical Locking Plate: A Retrospective Study in a Public Institution.Revista brasileira de ortopedia · 2025Article
- Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures with Bridging External Fixator with Optional Percutaneous K-Wires: What Are the Right Indications for Patient Age, Gender, Dominant Limb and Injury Pattern?Journal of personalized medicine · 2022Article
- Volar-locking plate versus external fixator in the management of distal radius fractures: An isokinetic study.Ulusal travma ve acil cerrahi dergisi = Turkish journal of trauma & emergency surgery : TJTES · 2022Article
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- Long-term subjective results and radiologic prognosis of a distal radius fracture in working-aged patients - a prognostic cohort study of 201 patients.The Journal of international medical research · 2021Article
- Long term outcomes of open reduction internal fixationOrthopedic reviews · 2019Article
- Incidence of complications and secondary procedure following distal radius fractures treated by volar locking plate (VLP).Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2019Article
- Volar locking plate versus external fixation with optional additional K-wire for treatment of AO type C2/C3 fractures: a retrospective comparative study.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2019Article
- Management of Unstable Distal Radius Fractures: A Survey of Hand Surgeons.Journal of wrist surgery · 2019Article
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare bridging external fixation with volar locked plating in patients with unstable distal radial fractures regarding functional outcome. A systematic search was performed in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline and EMBASE. All randomized controlled trials that compared bridging external fixation directly with volar locked plating in patients with distal radial fractures were considered. Three reviewers extracted data independently from eligible studies using a data collection form. Studies in which the primary endpoint was measured on the disabilities of the arm shoulder and hand (DASH) score at 3, 6 and 12 months were included in the analysis. To this end, mean scores and standard deviations were extracted. The software package Revman 5 provided by the Cochrane Collaboration was used for data analysis. Three studies involving 174 patients were analyzed. Ninety patients were treated with an (augmented) bridging external fixator and 84 with a volar locking plate. Data were analyzed with the random effects model. The robustness of the results was explored using a sensitivity analysis. Patients treated with a volar locking plate showed significantly lower DASH scores at all times. A difference of 16 (p = 0.006), six (p = 0.008) and eight points (p = 0.06) was found at 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up, respectively. Patients treated with a volar locking plate showed significantly better functional outcome throughout the entire follow-up. However, this difference was only clinically relevant during the early postoperative period (3 months).
Identifiers
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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.