Cast Versus Splint in Children With Acceptably Angulated Wrist Fractures

Phase 4

Completed

• Conditions: Distal Radius Fractures
• Interventions: Device: Fiberglass short arm cast; Device: Prefabricated wrist splint

• Registration Number: NCT00610220
• Lead Sponsor: The Hospital for Sick Children

Brief Summary

The study will compare the effectiveness of a prefabricated wrist splint with thermoplast reinforcements versus a short arm cast in skeletally immature children.

The hypothesis is that the commercially available wrist splint is at least as effective as traditional casting with respect to recovery of physical function.

Detailed Description

Acceptability angulated wrist bone fractures in children carry an excellent long-term prognosis because of the unique capacity of skeletally immature bones to heal via remodeling. Their management varies widely and there is virtually no scientific evidence supporting one treatment modality over another. Importantly, the most common treatment modality of cast application for four to six weeks is associated with many inconveniences. There are commercially available wrist splints that offer a more convenient alternative. Wrist splints likely have comparable immobilization and symptom relief, while simultaneously allowing for easier bathing and less reliance on subspeciality care. Preliminary adult evidence suggests that, in a comparable adult fracture, splinting may offer a safe alternative to casting, with earlier resumption of the usual activities. However, this treatment modality needs to be compared to the traditional casting management in the pediatric population before it can be recommended for clinical practice.

This study will be the first to challenge the current practice of routine casting and compare it to a commercially available wrist splint with respect to recovery of physical function in children with acceptably angulated wrist fractures. In addition, standardized treatment of these fractures with a splint may be associated with lower morbidity, reduced use of health care resources, and have the potential for cost savings.

This study will compare, in skeletally immature children, the functional outcomes that result from treatment with a prefabricated wrist splint versus a short arm cast in acceptably angulated distal radius fractures. Secondly, the cost-effectiveness of the splint relative to the cast will be evaluated.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-01
• Study First Submitted: 2008-01-24
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-01-24
• Study First Posted: 2008-02-07
• Primary Completion: 2009-07
• Study Completion: 2009-10
• Status Verified: 2014-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-10-06
• Last Update Posted: 2017-10-09

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 96

Inclusion Criteria

1. Skeletally immature children.
2. Children must have a bone age of ≥ 5 years of age.
3. Less than or equal to 15° angulation in the sagittal plane and ≤ 0.5 cm displacement in the frontal plane.

Therefore, all skeletally immature children ≥ 5 years and with a bone age of ≤ 11 years who present to the ED of HSC with acute distal metaphyseal radius +/- ulnar fractures that meet criteria for acceptable angulation and displacement will be eligible for enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Age < 5 years or > 12
2. The following diagnoses of distal radius fracture: buckle fracture, growth plate fractures of any kind, distal radius metaphyseal fractures with greater than 15° of angulation in the sagittal plane and/or more than 0.5 cm of displacement in the frontal plane.
3. All open fractures which require a surgical debridement.
4. All children at risk for pathological fractures such as those with congenital or acquired generalized bony disease. Stricter immobilization and a different prognosis may be applicable to this population.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	Fiberglass short arm cast	-
2	Prefabricated wrist splint	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Modified performance Activities Scale for Kids (ASKp) score	6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Patient Preference for their Device	Week 6
Changes in Angulation and/or displacement	1 and 4 weeks
Pain	1 and 4 weeks
Duration of immobilization device	1 and 4 week follow-up visits
Grip Strength	6 week follow-up visit
Range of Motion	Week 6

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Hospital for Sick Children; 🇨🇦 Toronto, Ontario, Canada