2015 COA Annual Meeting: A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Outcome of Dorsally Displaced Unstable Extraarticular Distal Radius Fractures in the Aging Population: External Fixation with Percutaneous Pinning vs. Open Reduction Internal Fixation

65 patients with dorsally displaced unstable extraarticular distal radius fractures (DRFs) were randomized to undergo fixation externally with percutaneous pinning, or internally via open reduction. The study was conducted in order to compare outcomes between the two groups in terms of Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, and the Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ). Findings indicated that although the internal fixation group showed significant improvements in early functional assessments (6 weeks), all outcomes were comparable at final follow up (12 months).