Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38507086›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society2024

Cast immobilization duration for distal radius fractures, a systematic review.

Marcel A N de Bruijn, Laura A van Ginkel, Emily Z Boersma, Lysanne van Silfhout, Tjarda N Tromp, Erik van de Krol, Michael J R Edwards, Vincent M A Stirler, Erik Hermans

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Observational
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Marcel A N de Bruijn *Department of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Postbox 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. marcel.debruijn@radboudumc.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2530-3422
Laura A van Ginkel *Department of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Postbox 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Emily Z BoersmaDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Postbox 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Lysanne van SilfhoutDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Postbox 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Tjarda N TrompDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Postbox 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Erik van de KrolDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Postbox 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Michael J R EdwardsDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Postbox 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Vincent M A StirlerDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Postbox 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Erik HermansDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, Postbox 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe optimal duration of immobilization for the conservative treatment of non- or minimally displaced and displaced distal radius fractures remains under debate. This research aims to review studies of these treatments to add evidence regarding the optimal immobilization period.

methodsA comprehensive database search was conducted. Studies investigating and comparing short (< 3 weeks) versus long (> 3 weeks) immobilizations for the conservative treatment of distal radius fractures were included. The studies were evaluated for radiological and functional outcomes, including pain, grip strength, and range of motion. Two reviewers independently reviewed all studies and performed the data extraction.

resultsThe initial database search identified 11.981 studies, of which 16 (involving 1.118 patients) were ultimately included. Patient-reported outcome measurements, grip strength, range of motion, and radiological outcomes were often better after shorter immobilization treatments. Radiological outcomes were better with longer immobilization in two studies and shorter immobilization in one study. Fourteen studies concluded that early mobilization is preferred, while the remaining two studies observed better outcomes with longer immobilization. The data were unsuitable for meta-analysis due to their heterogeneous nature.

conclusionShorter immobilization for conservatively treated distal radius fractures often yield equal or better outcomes than longer immobilizations. The immobilization for non- or minimally displaced distal radius fractures could therefore be shortened to 3 weeks or less. Displaced and reduced distal radius fractures cannot be immobilized shorter than 4 weeks due to the risk of complications. Future research with homogeneous groups could elucidate the optimal duration of immobilization.

Indexed as

Casts, SurgicalRadius FracturesRange of Motion, ArticularConservative TreatmentHand StrengthHumansImmobilizationTime FactorsWrist FracturesCast immobilizationConservative treatmentDistal radius fracturesDuration of immobilizationTrauma

Identifiers

PMID38507086
PMCPMC11458645

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.