Injury
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Fixation of intra-articular fractures of the distal radius using intramedullary nailing: a randomized trial versus palmar locking plates.
Proposed benefits of intramedullary techniques include limited soft tissue dissection while affording sufficient stability to allow early wrist motion. The primary null hypothesis of this randomized trial was that there is no significant difference with respect to functional outcome, pain and disability between patients treated with either 2.4-mm volar locking plate fixation or intramedullary nail fixation of intra-articular fractures of the distal radius. ⋯ The present study suggests that intramedullary nail fixation is a reasonable alternative to volar plate fixation for the treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures and both techniques can yield reliably good results.