Volar locking distal radius plates show better short-term results than other treatment options: A prospective randomised controlled trial

Table 1 Baseline comparisons of intervention (volar locking distal radius plate) and control (other treatments) group

	Intervention group n = 24	Control group n = 26
Patient characteristics
Mean age (SD)	51.1 (16.0)	52.5 (16.5)
Gender F (M)	15 (9)	13 (13)
% Osteoporosis	43	47
% Diabetes mellitus	5	4
% With medical condition1	25	29
Dominant hand	9	12
Fracture classification
A2	0	2
A3	4	7
B2	3	3
C1	7	6
C2	8	7
C3	2	1

¹Medical conditions recorded were COPD (3), Patient on aspirin or clopidogrel (5); oral steroids (1); continuous inhaled steroids (2); ischaemic heart disease (2). F: Female; M: Male.

Table 2 Functional and clinical outcomes at 3 mo

	VLDRP groupn = 24	Control groupn = 26	P-value
DASH (points)	40 (12)	50 (24)	0.063
PRWE (points)	21 (20)	47 (40)	0.0071
Grip strength (% of grip strength of uninjured limb)
	64 (29)	42 (32)	0.0121
Range of motion (in degrees)
Flexion	60 (21)	49 (22)	0.072
Extension	65 (48)	48 (27)	0.0211
Pronation	70 (31)	68 (26)	0.805
Supination	82 (25)	79 (24)	0.677
ADLs
Grade 1	19	10	0.0361
Grade 2	1	5
Grade 3	4	7
Grade 4	0	2
Grade 5	0	2

The values are given as the mean and (standard deviation).

¹Indicates significant result. The DASH is a validated, self-reported thirty item metric of upper-extremity function based on a 100 point scale, with 0 points indicating no disability and 100 points indicating maximum disability. The PRWE is a 15-item questionnaire designed to measure wrist pain and disability in activities of daily living. The PRWE allows patients to rate pain and disability from 0 to 10, with 10 being worst pain/unable to perform an activity. ADL: Activities of daily life; VLDRP: Volar locking distal radius plate; DASH: Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand; PRWE: Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation.

Table 3 Radiological parameters at presentation, post reduction, and 3 mo follow-up

	VLDRP group n = 24	Control groupn = 26	P-value
Injured wrist at presentation
Volar slope (degrees)	-17.2 (17.2)	-13.4(14.4)	0.241
Radial inclination (degrees)	8.7 (7.6)	14.2 (9.4)	0.021
Ulnar variance (mm)	2.5 (2.2)	2.3 (3.3)	0.285
Injured wrist post-reduction
Volar slope (degrees)	4.7 (5.4)	0.08(7.25)	0.011
Radial inclination (degrees)	19.6 (4.5)	18.69(4.52)	0.45
Ulnar variance (mm)	0.1 (0.6)	0.4 (1.4)	0.146
Injured wrist 3 mo
Volar slope (degrees)	3.5 (4.6)	-5.4 (11.6)	0.0011
Radial inclination (degrees)	19.3 (4.4)	15.37 (7.0)	0.0541
Ulnar variance (mm)	0.9 (1.3)	2.1 (1.9)	0.0111

The values are given as the mean and (standard deviation).

¹Indicates significant result. VLDRP: Volar locking distal radius plate.