Does Vitamin C Reduce Finger Stiffness After Distal Radius Fractures?

Not Applicable

Completed

Interventions: Drug: 500 mg vitamin c, 1 pill per day for 6 weeks
Drug: 1 placebo pill for 6 weeks

Brief Summary: The reported prevalence of disproportionate pain and disability among patients recovering from a fracture of the distal radius varies widely. Literature reports numbers between 1% and 37%, perhaps in part because it is poorly defined, known by so many different names, subjective, and unverifiable.

The investigators are interested in the effect of vitamin C after distal radius fractures on objective measurement of finger motion, patient reported outcome measures, and pain intensity, instead of the previously used, subjective and imprecise criteria for complex regional pain syndrome.

Patients presenting to the Hand and Orthopaedic Trauma Services of MGH with a distal radius fracture will be asked to participate in this clinical trial. Patient will be randomly assigned to take either placebo or vitamin C 500 mg until full finger motion is attained as regarded by the treating physician at follow-up or for 6 weeks.

The investigators hypothesize no difference in finger stiffness at 6 weeks measured by distance to palmar crease of the index through little finger between patients taking vitamin C or placebo after a distal radius fracture. Additionally, the investigators assess finger stiffness by range of motion and stiffness of the thumb, and difference in PROMIS upper extremity function and pain score both measured at six months.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

All adult (age 18 or greater) patients presenting to the Hand and Orthopaedic Trauma Services of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) within two weeks of a fracture of the distal radius, either operatively or nonoperatively treated

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
500 mg vitamin C	500 mg vitamin c, 1 pill per day for 6 weeks	Arm will take 1 pill of 500 mg vitamin C per day for 6 weeks
Placebo	1 placebo pill for 6 weeks	Arm will take 1 placebo pill per day for 6 weeks

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Distance to Palmar Crease Index Through Small Finger	Day 1 (baseline), 6 weeks	To establish the distance to palmar crease, we asked patients to make a fist and determine the distance from nail tip to palmar crease for each individual digit using a ruler. We defined total distance to palmar crease as the sum of the values for the index, long, ring, and small fingers.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
0-10 Ordinal Pain Score	Day 1 (baseline), 6 weeks, 6 months	Measure Description: The Ordinal Pain Scale measures the amount of pain on a scale from 0, no pain, to 10, worst possible pain. The investigators will compare the change in pain between the two cohorts after 6 weeks of treatment and 6 months after treatment.
Thumb Motion	Day 1 (baseline), 6 weeks	Total active range of motion at the thumb combines active flexion at the metacarpo-phalangeal and interphalangeal joint, as well as palmar andabduction
PROMIS Upper Extremity - CAT	Day 1 (baseline), 6 weeks, 6 months	The Patient Reported Outcome Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) is a computerized assessment measuring the physical function of the upper extremity. It is scored using a T-score, and the average is 50 for the U.S. population. In a given PROMIS, a T-score above 50 represents more of the measured variable than the average. For this variable, a T-score above 50 indicates greater physical function than the average population.
Active Flexion Index Through Small Finger	Day 1 (baseline), 6 weeks	Active flexion will be measured using a handheld goniometer. We calculate total active flexion of the index through small finger by summing flexion at the metacarpo-phalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints