Postoperative Immobilization and Physical Therapy Following Volar Locked Plating for Distal Radius Fractures

Running, not enrolling · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Distal Radius Fracture

In brief

The purpose of this study is to see if splinting and formal physical therapy are necessary following surgical fixation (open reduction internal fixation) of distal radius fractures (broken wrist). Currently there is no consensus for post-operative protocol following fixation of distal radius fractures. The decision to splint (late mobilization) and prescribe formal physical therapy vs. not to splint (early mobilization) and use self-guided physical therapy is based on surgeon or institutional preference. The goal of this study is to determine if early mobilization leads to improved outcomes and decreased costs without increasing pain or the loss of hardware fixation.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04324580

Run by

NYU Langone Health

People needed

230

Starts

2020-06-18

Expected to finish

2027-08-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-01

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Isolated displaced distal radius fractures, +/- ulnar styloid fracture, treated with volar locked plating and screws.
• > 10 degrees of dorsal tilt
• Volar displacement (Volar Barton's type fracture)
• Shortening > 3 mm
• Intra-articular displacement or step off > 2mm.

You may not qualify if…

• Ipsilateral upper limb concomitant fracture
• Fracture fixation other than volar locked plating and screws
• Dislocation or neurologic injury
• Gustilo-Anderson grade III open fractures

Where it is running

• NYU Langone — New York, New York, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.