Background
The best treatment for dorsally displaced distal radius fracture is still debated. The aim of our study is to use the patient
rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) and Euroqol functional outcome scores to look at patients’ function for a minimum of 1 year
from the fracture. This is our pilot study to inform a multinational randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Method
32 consecutive patients with a Colles-type fracture were treated surgically. 16 were treated with K wires and 16 underwent
an open reduction and internal fixation. At a minimum of 1 year follow up, the PRWE and Euroqol questionnaires were filled
in.
Results
Intra articular and extra articular fractures were equally distributed between the two groups. The Euroqol, the EQVAS and
PRWE scores showed no statistical difference between the two groups (respectively p = 0.7, 95% CI −0.23 to 0.17; p = 0.05, CI −30 to 0.6 and p = 0.5, 95% CI −18 to 9.4).
Conclusion
Using PRWE and Euroqol, there is no short term functional difference between patients treated with closed reduction and percutaneous
wire fixation or open reduction and internal fixation following a distal radius fracture. Based on these results we have achieved
our sample size calculation for the multinational RCT.
Keywords Distal radius fracture - Functional outcome - ORIF - K wiring