Influence of postoperative immobilization on pain control of patients with distal radius fracture treated with volar locked plating: A prospective, randomized clinical trial

39 patients with distal radius fractures undergoing open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with a volar locking plate were randomized to receive 2 weeks of post-operative immobilization with a plaster splint or no immobilization. The primary outcome of interest was pain as measured on a Visual Analog Scale. Secondary outcomes included tramadol (opioid) use, DASH score, range of motion (wrist flexion-extension; forearm rotation), patient satisfaction, wrist edema and incidence of complications. Follow up was performed up to 6 months. The results from the trial found no significant differences between the plaster splint group and the no splint group in all outcomes at all measured time points.