2022 OTA Annual Meeting : Dislocated Distal Radial Fractures in Adult Patients: Four Weeks versus Six Weeks of Cast Immobilization Following Reduction, A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

100 patients with reduced distal radius fractures were randomized to receive either 4 weeks (n=49) or 6 weeks of cast immobilization. The primary outcome of this trial was Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) after 1-year. Secondary outcomes of interest were: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score at 1 year, functional outcomes (6 & 12 weeks, and 6 months), range of motion, pain, and complications. Patients in the 4 weeks cast immobilization group reported better PRWE scores at 1 year, compared to the 6-week group. No significant differences were reported between the two groups at all time points for range of motion, radiological outcomes, pain, and complications.