OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of immediate (first day after surgery) mobilization compared to standard five weeks cast immobilization on the functional outcome after volar locking plate fixation of distal radius fractures. DESIGN: Prospective randomized parallel group comparative trial. SETTING: Trauma Hospital, Austria. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with isolated unstable distal radius fractures, stabilized with volar angular stable locking plate. INTERVENTIONS: The immediate mobilization group received a removable forearm splint for one week and active supervised group physiotherapy and home exercises for the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers from the first postoperative day. The cast immobilization group received a non-removable cast for five weeks. In the first five weeks supervised group physiotherapy and home exercises were performed for shoulder, elbow, and fingers. Thereafter additional supervised and home exercises for the wrist were started. MAIN MEASURES: At regular intervals of six and nine weeks, three and six months, and one year post surgery range of motion, grip strength, and x-rays were evaluated. Additionally, the shortened disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (QuickDASH) score, Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation, Mayo Wrist Score, and pain according to the visual analogue scale score were analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen patients were prospectively randomized into two study groups. At the one-year follow-up, patients in the immediate mobilization group showed a significantly higher range of motion in extension/flexion (mean difference 10.2degree, 99% confidence interval 0.6 to 19.8), grip strength (mean difference 5.1 kg, 99% confidence interval -0.5 to 10.7), and Mayo Wrist Score (mean difference 7.9 points, 99% confidence interval 2.3 to 13.5) than the cast immobilization group. Range of motion in supination/pronation (mean difference 13.4degree, 99% confidence interval 1.5 to 25.3) and in radial/ulnar deviation (mean difference 6.3degree, 99% confidence interval 0.9 to 11.7) differed significantly up to nine weeks favoring the immediate mobilization group. The Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation revealed significantly better scores after three months (mean difference 9.3 points, 99% confidence interval 0.5 to 18.1) and QuickDASH after six months (mean difference 7.3 points, 99% confidence interval 0.3 to 14.3) in the immediate mobilization group. All other subsequent follow-up examinations indicated no significant differences in respect of pain, range of motion, and patient-reported outcome measurements between the study groups. There were no significant differences in respect of radiological loss of reduction and complications between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate mobilization in combination with supervised physiotherapy of the wrist after volar locking plate fixation of unstable distal radius fractures results in a significantly improved range of motion and grip strength after one year compared to cast immobilization. No increased risk for loss of reduction and other complications was observed.

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