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Below-Elbow Versus Initial Above-Elbow Casting for Distal Radius Fractures

NCT07704879 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 93

Last updated 2026-07-15

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial was to compare two casting strategies for adults with a broken wrist, also called a distal radius fracture. The study included people whose treating team had determined that treatment without surgery was appropriate. Their fracture was first put back into position without surgery.

The main questions were:

* Does starting treatment with a below-elbow cast or an above-elbow cast affect how well the fracture stays in position?
* Does cast length affect early elbow or shoulder pain and stiffness?
* Does it affect grip strength, arm and wrist muscle recovery, wrist function, or long-term disability?

Researchers compared a below-elbow cast used from the start with an above-elbow cast used for the first 2 weeks and then changed to a below-elbow cast.

Participants:

* were randomly assigned to one of the two casting strategies
* wore a cast for 4 weeks, followed by a splint and rehabilitation
* had x-rays and clinical assessments during the first 12 weeks
* were scheduled for bilateral grip-strength and machine-based muscle-strength testing at cast removal and at 12 weeks
* were invited to complete a clinical and functional follow-up assessment at approximately 5 years

Conditions

  • Distal Radius Fracture

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Below-Elbow Cast Immobilization

A below-elbow cast was applied following closed reduction of the distal radius fracture. The cast was maintained until 4 weeks after reduction and was then removed. Splinting and rehabilitation followed cast removal.

PROCEDURE

Initial Above-Elbow Cast Followed by Below-Elbow Cast

An above-elbow cast was applied following closed reduction of the distal radius fracture. At 2 weeks, the above-elbow cast was converted to a below-elbow cast. All cast immobilization ended at 4 weeks after reduction, followed by splinting and rehabilitation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Istanbul University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Alper Ş. Kendirci, M.D. · Istanbul University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
70 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-07-02
Primary Completion
2022-06-20
Completion
2026-06-14

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07704879 on ClinicalTrials.gov