Immediate Mobilization Versus 2 Weeks Cast Immobilization After Distal Radius Fracture Treated With Volar Locking Plate (LIMPER-DRF)

February 10, 2026 updated by: Aleksi Reito, Tampere University Hospital

Immediate Mobilization Versus 2 Weeks Cast Immobilization After Distal Radius Fracture Treated With Volar Locking Plate - a Study Protocol for a Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial

The aim of this study is to analyze total lenght of the sick leace and functional outcome (PRWE) at 2 months between 2 weeks casting and immediate mobilization following volar plating for a DRF.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study is a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. The aim of this study will be to compare the early postoperative outcomes of the patients enrolled in the early mobilization with those patients in post-operative 2-week casting following volar plating for a DRF. Co-primary outcome in this study will be the total lenght of sick leave and Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) 2 months after the operation.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
240

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Finland
      • Jyväskylä, Finland
        • Teemu Karjalainen
      • Kuopio, Finland
        • Kuopio University Hospital
      • Tampere, Finland
        • Laura Kärnä
  • Sweden
      • Danderyd, Sweden
        • Danderyds Sjukhus
      • Sundsvall, Sweden
        • Sundsvalls sjukhuset

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Intra- or extra articular DRF (Colles, Smith, Volar barton)
  • operative treatment justified

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Refusal to participate in the study
  • Open fracture with a severity greater than Gustilo grade 1
  • Patient aged less than 18 or over 65
  • Patient does not understand written or spoken guidance in local languages
  • Pathological fracture
  • Previous fracture in the same wrist or forearm in the last 10 years, that has led to impairment of function
  • Ipsilateral fracture in upper extremity
  • Associated fractures of the ulna (except fractures of the PSU)
  • Polytrauma

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Immediate mobilization after distal radius fracture treated with volar locking plate
Other: Immediate mobilization
Immediate mobilization postoperatively without casting
Procedure: Volar plating
Volar plating of distal radius fracture
Active Comparator: 2 weeks cast immobilization after distal radius fracture treated with volar locking plate
Procedure: Volar plating
Volar plating of distal radius fracture
Other: Cast treatment
Dorsal cast placed in OR

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient-rated wrist evaluation questionnaire
Time Frame: 2 months
The PRWE is a 15-item questionnaire designed to measure wrist pain and disability in daily activities. It ranges from 100 (worst) to 0 (best). It consists of 2 subscales. Pain subscale contains 5 items. Function subscale contains total 10 items which are further divided into 2 sections: specific activities (having 6 items) and usual activities.
2 months
Total lenght of the sick leave
Time Frame: 12 months
Total number of days of work during the 1 year study period
12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient-rated wrist evaluation questionnaire
Time Frame: 4 weeks
The PRWE is a 15-item questionnaire designed to measure wrist pain and disability in daily activities. It ranges from 100 (worst) to 0 (best). It consists of 2 subscales. Pain subscale contains 5 items. Function subscale contains total 10 items which are further divided into 2 sections: specific activities (having 6 items) and usual activities.
4 weeks
Patient-rated wrist evaluation questionnaire
Time Frame: 6 months
The PRWE is a 15-item questionnaire designed to measure wrist pain and disability in daily activities. It ranges from 100 (worst) to 0 (best). It consists of 2 subscales. Pain subscale contains 5 items. Function subscale contains total 10 items which are further divided into 2 sections: specific activities (having 6 items) and usual activities.
6 months
Patient-rated wrist evaluation questionnaire
Time Frame: 12 months
The PRWE is a 15-item questionnaire designed to measure wrist pain and disability in daily activities. It ranges from 100 (worst) to 0 (best). It consists of 2 subscales. Pain subscale contains 5 items. Function subscale contains total 10 items which are further divided into 2 sections: specific activities (having 6 items) and usual activities.
12 months
Return to work
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Patient is asked if he or she has returned to the previous work. If no patient is asked is he or she Still on sick leave, partial sick leave or returned to other work.
4 weeks
Return to work
Time Frame: 2 months
Patient is asked if he or she has returned to the previous work. If no patient is asked is he or she Still on sick leave, partial sick leave or returned to other work.
2 months
Return to work
Time Frame: 6 months
Patient is asked if he or she has returned to the previous work. If no patient is asked is he or she Still on sick leave, partial sick leave or returned to other work.
6 months
Return to work
Time Frame: 12 months
Patient is asked if he or she has returned to the previous work. If no patient is asked is he or she Still on sick leave, partial sick leave or returned to other work.
12 months
Complications
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Any surgery related complication: wound dehiscence, deep infection, flexor tendon rupture, nerve injury, mechanical complications, nonunion, malunion, complex regional pain syndrome
4 weeks
Complications
Time Frame: 2 months
Any surgery related complication: wound dehiscence, deep infection, flexor tendon rupture, nerve injury, mechanical complications, nonunion, malunion, complex regional pain syndrome
2 months
Complications
Time Frame: 6 months
Any surgery related complication: wound dehiscence, deep infection, flexor tendon rupture, nerve injury, mechanical complications, nonunion, malunion, complex regional pain syndrome
6 months
Complications
Time Frame: 12 months
Any surgery related complication: wound dehiscence, deep infection, flexor tendon rupture, nerve injury, mechanical complications, nonunion, malunion, complex regional pain syndrome
12 months
Self-perceived working ability
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Patient is asked to rate his os her working ability using two scales: NRS from 0 (fully disabled) to 10 (best capability) and ordinally (fully capable, partially capable, fully disabled).
4 weeks
Self-perceived working ability
Time Frame: 2 months
Patient is asked to rate his os her working ability using two scales: NRS from 0 (fully disabled) to 10 (best capability) and ordinally (fully capable, partially capable, fully disabled).
2 months
Self-perceived working ability
Time Frame: 6 months
Patient is asked to rate his os her working ability using two scales: NRS from 0 (fully disabled) to 10 (best capability) and ordinally (fully capable, partially capable, fully disabled).
6 months
Self-perceived working ability
Time Frame: 12 months
Patient is asked to rate his os her working ability using two scales: NRS from 0 (fully disabled) to 10 (best capability) and ordinally (fully capable, partially capable, fully disabled).
12 months
Visual analogue pain scale
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Overall pain during last 7 days in a scale from 0 to 100 (worst)
4 weeks
Visual analogue pain scale
Time Frame: 2 months
Overall pain during last 7 days in a scale from 0 to 100 (worst)
2 months
Visual analogue pain scale
Time Frame: 6 months
Overall pain during last 7 days in a scale from 0 to 100 (worst)
6 months
Visual analogue pain scale
Time Frame: 12 months
Overall pain during last 7 days in a scale from 0 to 100 (worst)
12 months
Patient-acceptable symptom state
Time Frame: 2 months
Patient satisfaction will be measured using the patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS).The questionnaires will include the following questions: Would you be willing to take the same treatment again if the treatment result was as it is now? (Yes/No) Considering all the different ways your injury is affecting you, if you would remain in this state, do you feel that your current state is satisfactory (Yes/No)?
2 months
Patient-acceptable symptom state
Time Frame: 6 months
Patient satisfaction will be measured using the patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS).The questionnaires will include the following questions: Would you be willing to take the same treatment again if the treatment result was as it is now? (Yes/No) Considering all the different ways your injury is affecting you, if you would remain in this state, do you feel that your current state is satisfactory (Yes/No)?
6 months
Patient-acceptable symptom state
Time Frame: 12 months
Patient satisfaction will be measured using the patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS).The questionnaires will include the following questions: Would you be willing to take the same treatment again if the treatment result was as it is now? (Yes/No) Considering all the different ways your injury is affecting you, if you would remain in this state, do you feel that your current state is satisfactory (Yes/No)?
12 months
Work capacity
Time Frame: 4 weeks
The participants will be asked to rate their working capacity on a numerical scale from 0 to 10, with "0" being not able to work at all and "10" being the ability to work at its best.
4 weeks
Work capacity
Time Frame: 2 months
The participants will be asked to rate their working capacity on a numerical scale from 0 to 10, with "0" being not able to work at all and "10" being the ability to work at its best.
2 months
Work capacity
Time Frame: 6 months
The participants will be asked to rate their working capacity on a numerical scale from 0 to 10, with "0" being not able to work at all and "10" being the ability to work at its best.
6 months
Work capacity
Time Frame: 12 months
The participants will be asked to rate their working capacity on a numerical scale from 0 to 10, with "0" being not able to work at all and "10" being the ability to work at its best.
12 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient activity
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Patient activity measured with triaxial wrist accelerometer
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Tampere University Hospital

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Kuopio University Hospital
Sundsvall Hospital
Danderyd Hospital
Jyväskylä Central Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Aleksi Reito, Tampere University Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Laura Kärnä, MD, Tampere University Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 10, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 10, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 7, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 26, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 9, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 10, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • R21111

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Data is available on reasonable request.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

After the study has been completed and for 10 years after.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

On reasonable request and research plan for IPD use should be provided.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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