Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40034630›Full record

ReviewCureus2025

Literature Review of Postoperative Distal Radius Fracture Immobilization Recommendations.

Alyssa Cevetello, Janae L Rasmussen, Hannah Sudhakar, Sydney Shindler, Rachel Yim, Rafay Hasan, Brandon Baek

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Observational
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

7 authors.

Alyssa CevetelloOsteopathic Medicine, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, USA.
Janae L RasmussenOrthopedic Surgery, Valley Consortium for Medical Education, Modesto, USA.
Hannah SudhakarOsteopathic Medicine, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, USA.
Sydney ShindlerOsteopathic Medicine, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth, USA.
Rachel YimOsteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, Mesa, USA.
Rafay HasanOsteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, Mesa, USA.
Brandon BaekOsteopathic Medicine, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are a commonly treated injury in orthopedics. DRFs have a high incidence across patient demographics, including pediatrics, young patients in high-energy trauma, and geriatric patients in low-energy trauma. While DRFs occur across a large range of age groups, they are especially consequential in geriatric patients with osteoporosis. Management of DRFs has extensive variability, ranging from conservative casting to surgical interventions, such as open reduction and internal fixation surgical procedures. The diversity of treatment options for DRFs is due to a consideration of factors, such as fracture characteristics, time to presentation with an orthopedic surgeon, age of the patient, and medical comorbidities of the patient. Despite being a common fracture type, there remain discrepancies in the non-pediatric literature regarding postoperative recommendations, such as the timing and methods of immobilization. There is also debate regarding whether postoperative immobilization in adult DRFs has clinical benefit. Some of this variability depends on the type of fixation utilized, such as a volar locking plate, dorsal locking plate, and dorsal wrist-spanning fixation. This literature review examines recommendations and outcomes of postoperative splinting (supination, pronation, or neutral rotation of the forearm) versus removable wrist brace versus soft dressings only for DRFs with both intra-articular and extra-articular fracture patterns with operative fixation. Postoperative care is imperative to study as it carries long-term effects on patients' quality of life, as their range of motion and strength can be dictated by the methodology of this care. Studies have been conducted comparing the outcomes of early mobilization versus prolonged immobilization after surgical intervention. This literature review analyzes these studies to understand which methods carry better outcomes with respect to the range of motion and quality of life of patients for operatively treated DRFs in non-pediatric patients.

Indexed as

distal radius fracturesgeriatric fracturehand and wrist surgerypostoperative immobilizationpostoperative outcomeswrist fracturewrist splintwrist surgery

Identifiers

PMID40034630
PMCPMC11875217

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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.