Journal Article

Operative Treatment of Intra-Articular Distal Radius Fractures With versus Without Arthroscopy: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Schep, Niels W. L., Mulders, Marjolein A. M., Colaris, Joost W., van Heijl, Mark, Selles, Caroline A., Peters, Rolf W., Cleffken, Berry I.

2018

Overview

Background In the past several years, an increase in open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for intra-articular distal radius fractures has been observed. This technique leads to a quicker recovery of function compared to non-operative treatment. However, some patients continue to have a painful and stiff wrist postoperatively. Arthroscopically assisted removal of intra-articular fracture haematoma and debris may improve the functional outcomes following operative treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures. The purpose of this randomised controlled trial is to determine the difference in functional outcome, assessed with the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score, after ORIF with and without an additional wrist arthroscopy in adult patients with displaced complete articular distal radius fractures. Methods In this multicentre trial, adult patients with a displaced complete articular distal radius fracture are randomised between ORIF with an additional wrist arthroscopy to remove fracture haematoma and debris (intervention group) and conventional fluoroscopic-assisted ORIF (control group). The primary outcome is functional outcome assessed with the PRWE score after three months. Secondary outcomes are wrist function assessed with the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, postoperative pain, range of motion, grip strength, complications and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, in the intervention group, the quality of reduction, associated ligamentous injuries and cartilage damage will be assessed. A total of 50 patients will be included in this study. Discussion Although ORIF of intra-articular distal radius fractures leads to a quicker resume of function compared to non-operative treatment, some patients continue to have a painful and stiff wrist postoperatively. We hypothesise that, due to the removal of fracture haematoma and debris by an additional arthroscopy, functional outcomes will be better compared to the non-arthroscopically treated group. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02660515 . Registered on 13 January 2016.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Arm injuries / Arthritis / Arthroscopy / Arthroscopy - adverse effects / Articular / Biomechanical Phenomena / Biomedicine / Care and treatment / Cartilage / Classification / Comparative analysis / Cost analysis / Disability Evaluation / Displaced / Distal radius fracture / Fracture Fixation, Internal - adverse effects / Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods / Fracture Healing / Fractures / Fractures (Injuries) / Health Sciences / Humans / Injuries / Internal fixation / Intervention / Medical research / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Methods / Multicenter Studies as Topic / Netherlands / Open Fracture Reduction - adverse effects / Open Fracture Reduction - methods / Patient outcomes / Patients / Perioperative care / PRWE / Radius Fractures - diagnostic imaging / Radius Fractures - physiopathology / Radius Fractures - surgery / Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Recovery of Function / Statistics for Life Sciences / Study Protocol / Surgeons / Time Factors / Trauma / Treatment Outcome / Wrist - diagnostic imaging / Wrist - physiopathology / Wrist - surgery / Wrist arthroscopy / Wrist function