Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research (Dec 2021)

Does circumferential casting prevent fracture redisplacement in reduced distal radius fractures? A retrospective multicentre study

  • A. C. Berger,
  • B. Barvelink,
  • M. Reijman,
  • T. Gosens,
  • G. A. Kraan,
  • M. R. De Vries,
  • M. H. J. Verhofstad,
  • K. W. W. Lansink,
  • P. F. W. Hannemann,
  • J. W. Colaris

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-021-02866-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 1
pp. 1 – 6

Abstract

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Abstract Background This study evaluates whether a circumferential cast compared to a plaster splint leads to less fracture redisplacement in reduced extra-articular distal radius fractures (DRFs). Methods This retrospective multicentre study was performed in four hospitals (two teaching hospitals and two academic hospitals). Adult patients with a displaced extra-articular DRF, treated with closed reduction, were included. Patients were included from a 5-year period (January 2012–January 2017). According to the hospital protocol, fractures were immobilized with a below elbow circumferential cast (CC) or a plaster splint (PS). The primary outcome concerned the difference in the occurrence of fracture redisplacement at one-week follow-up. Results A total of 500 patients were included in this study (PS n = 184, CC n = 316). At one-week follow-up, fracture redisplacement occurred in 52 patients (17%) treated with a CC compared to 53 patients (29%) treated with a PS. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Conclusion This study suggests that treatment of reduced DRFs with a circumferential cast might cause less fracture redisplacement at 1-week follow-up compared to treatment with a plaster splint. Level of Evidence Level III, Retrospective study.

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