Cancellous Allograft versus Autologous Bone Grafting For Repair of Comminuted Distal Radius Fractures: A Prospective, Randomized Trial

90 patients with an instable dorsally displaced distal radius fracture or a failed conservative plaster cast treatment were included in a study to test the efficacy of allogeneic bone graft substitutes, Tutoplast-cancellous-chips. Patients were randomized to the experimental group in which the metaphyseal void was filled with the allogeneic Tutoplast-cancellous-chips or to the comparison group in which the void was filled with a bone graft harvested from the iliac crest. Assessments over 12 months indicated no significant difference between the two groups for wrist motion, pain, grip strength, radiologic measurements, and overall clinical outcomes. However, the tutoplast group was superior over the iliac crest group in terms of prevalence of post-operation complications and mean operative time.