Early Wrist Mobilization After Distal Radius Fractures Stabilized by Volar Locking Plate: A Prospective Randomized Pilot Trial

Objective/hypothesis: Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are very common, and operative treatment by volar locking plate became the standard therapy in the last decade. Furthermore, incidence of DRF will increase of 50% by 2030. So surgical treatment and aftercare is of great interest. Main reason for open reduction and stabilization with a palmar locking plate is the possibility for early postoperative mobilization. There are only a few studies that compare early postoperative mobilization after DRF with immobilization. Main aim of this study was to compare early postoperative mobilization after DRF with a 5-week cast immobilization. Null hypothesis was that early mobilization leads to equal results in range of motion (ROM) and functional outcome scores than an immobilization of 5 weeks. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with an isolated DRF treated by open reduction and internal fixation with a single volar locking plate without bone graft were prospectively randomized in 2 groups. One group (“early mo...