Prednisone for CRPS in Distal Radius Fracture

April 27, 2026 updated by: David Stockton, University of British Columbia

Prednisone for the Early Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome After Distal Radius Fracture - a Pilot Randomized Trial

Wrist fractures are the most prevalent adult fracture. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a common complication that can occur, leading to permanent disability and is costly to the patient and healthcare system. In addition, amidst the opioid epidemic, the risk of increased opioid use in patients with CRPS prompts the need to find viable treatment strategies. This study aims to evaluate an anti-inflammatory medication, prednisone, in the early treatment of CRPS. Patients with wrist fractures who undergo surgical treatment will be randomized to receiving placebo vs prednisone for 2 weeks. Clinical assessments in the follow up period will be compared.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Purpose:

Distal radius fractures are the most prevalent adult fracture, accounting for 17.5% of all fractures. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a common complication that can occur in this population, with a reported incidence of up to 32%. CRPS can lead to permanent disability and is costly to the patient and to the healthcare system, with an estimated cumulative outpatient and pain prescription cost of $42,026 over 8 years after diagnosis. In addition, amidst the opioid epidemic, the risk of increased opioid use in patients with CRPS prompts the need to find viable treatment strategies.

While there have been various proposed treatment modalities, evidence from randomized studies is lacking. Several small studies (retrospective and prospective case series) have shown potential efficacy of glucocorticoids for the treatment of CRPS. To our knowledge, there are no randomized controlled trials that evaluate treatment of CRPS in distal radius fractures with glucocorticoids.

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate a short course of oral prednisone as potential treatment for patients identified as developing early signs of CRPS after sustaining a distal radius fracture that was treated operatively. We will examine feasibility metrics including patient recruitment rate, adherence to allocation and protocol, withdrawal from study, and follow-through, in order to inform design of a definitive clinical trial. We will also assess the resolution of CRPS, post-operative opioid use, and any adverse events in patients who sustain a distal radius fracture after receiving prednisone vs placebo for 2 weeks post-operatively, with 6 months follow up post injury.

Hypothesis:

We hypothesize that the proposed pilot trial will demonstrate feasibility of a future definitive trial.

In addition, we hypothesize that there will be higher rates of CRPS resolution, lower amounts of opioid consumption, and no increased adverse effects, and better clinical outcomes in patients who receive prednisone treatment compared to those who received placebo. However, formal hypothesis testing will not be performed for this pilot trial.

Justification:

Developing CRPS after sustaining a distal radius fracture can lead to devastating outcomes, including permanent disability, opioid dependency, and the inability to return to work. In addition, diagnosing CRPS can be a prolonged process due to the range of vague symptoms on presentation, which can lead to delay in treatment and worsening of outcomes. Patients with CRPS may require more follow-up and referrals, which further burdens the healthcare system.

The pathogenesis of CRPS is complex and not fully known; evidence suggests nervous system sensitisation, autonomic dysfunction, and inflammatory changes. There are numerous treatment options for CRPS, though little high-quality evidence supports their efficacy. These include but are not limited to oral anti-depressants, parenteral lidocaine and corticosteroids, surgical treatment with compressed nerve release, counselling, and occupational and physical therapy. Vitamin C has been proposed as effective prophylaxis for CRPS in distal radius fractures but data have been conflicting, with the most recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) in 2014 by Ekrol et al. showing no difference in functional outcomes or rate of CRPS in patients with distal radius fractures given Vitamin C versus placebo.

Given the prevalence of distal radius fractures in adults, a relatively high CRPS incidence in this population, and no established efficacious treatment options, more research is needed to determine evidence-based and effective treatment options for this destructive condition. Studies have identified that using glucocorticoids can potentially be effective and safe for treating patients with CRPS, possibly due to the anti-inflammatory properties of glucocorticoids. One retrospective study of patients undergoing surgery for terrible triad elbow (complex elbow fracture dislocation) injuries demonstrated improved elbow range of motion for patients receiving intraoperative dexamethasone and 6-day oral course of methylprednisolone compared to patients who did not, with no increased postoperative infection. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory nature of glucocorticoids deserves investigation for its potential to decrease opioid consumption after distal radius surgery.

A variety of doses and duration of glucocorticoids have been used in studies to manage CRPS, with a recent review article by Kwak et al showing starting doses between 30 mg to 100 mg of prednisolone. Although glucocorticoids are known to be associated with adverse effects, most are only seen with long term therapy. In addition, studies have shown that a short-course of glucocorticoids (less than 3 to 4 weeks), irrespective of dose, do not require a tapering regimen and is not associated with increased risk of adrenal insufficiency. While osteoporosis and fracture non-union are known adverse events of long-term glucocorticoid use, this has not been demonstrated in literature for short-term use. Moreover, given the risk of non-union in distal radius fractures is exceedingly rare (0.2%), this calls for less concern for using glucocorticoids in this population.

Therefore, evaluating prednisone, a relatively cheap, accessible, and safe oral medication when used for a short duration, as an anti-inflammatory and potential early treatment agent for CRPS in distal radius fractures in this pilot study may have implications for the complication profile and functional outcome for this common fracture.

Research Design:

This will be a pilot double-blind randomized control trial in patients who sustain a distal radius fracture treated operatively with a volar locked plate and identified as at risk of developing CRPS. Follow up will be 6 months, involving 4 study visits that correspond to standard post-operative clinic visits.

Statistical Analysis:

A power analysis assuming incidence of 20% CRPS and absolute risk reduction (ARR) of 10% with prophylaxis yielded a sample size of 199 patients per arm, with 80% power and significance level (α) of 0.05 (performed using online sample size calculator at clincalc.com/stats/samplesize.aspx). Incidence and ARR were estimated based on previous RCTs assessing Vitamin C as prophylaxis for CRPS in distal radius fractures. We aim to recruit 10% for this pilot study, with 20 per arm (placebo vs prednisone), for a total of 40 patients.

The CONSORT guidelines for reporting of randomized pilot and feasibility trial will be followed for the analysis and reporting of results. An intention-to-treat analysis will be utilized.

Primary Outcomes: Descriptive statistics, reported as count and percentage, will be used to summarize the feasibility outcomes (95% CI). Table 2 presents the traffic lights criteria for each outcome of the pilot study. Green indicates feasible, red indicates not feasible, and yellow indicates likely feasible but will require adjustments to the protocol. (please see attached protocol)

Secondary and Tertiary Outcomes: Chi-square (or Fisher's Exact) test will be used to compare the proportion of CRPS between groups. Either Mann-Whitney U test or two-sample t test will be used for the other quantitative outcomes depending on the variable distribution. Multivariable regression analysis will be conducted to test for associations between the intervention and each outcome, controlling for differences in patient characteristics. All P values will be 2-sided and statistical significance will be set at P < 0.05. For this pilot trial, formal hypothesis testing will not be performed as it is underpowered.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Phase

  • 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 Backup

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 1M9
        • Recruiting
        • Vancouver General Hospital
        • Contact:

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patient is aged 19 years or older;
  2. Patient has a unilateral, closed, distal radius fracture confirmed by radiographs;
  3. The fracture is acute, within 21 days of injury;
  4. Patient undergoes open reduction internal fixation with volar locking plate;

  5. Patient is identified as at risk of developing CRPS with 2 or more of the following:

    1. Pain score on visual analogue scale (VAS) greater than or equal to 5/10 within 1 week of injury and beyond;
    2. Centre of Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) score on presentation is greater than or equal to 16;
    3. Patient identifies as female;
  6. Patient is identified as developing signs of CRPS based on the Budapest CRPS Criteria;
  7. Patient provides informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Patient has previously fractured ipsilateral wrist;
  2. Patient has neurovascular injury associated with distal radius fracture;
  3. Patient has associated extremity or polytrauma injuries that would interfere with rehabilitation and outcome measurements, in the opinion of the investigator;
  4. Patient has allergy to prednisone or placebo ingredients;
  5. Patient has contraindication to prednisone or placebo ingredients;
  6. Patient already takes a glucocorticoid medication;
  7. Patient has active bacterial, viral, or fungal infection;
  8. Patient is diagnosed with diabetes;
  9. Patient is pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or breastfeeding;
  10. Patient is anticipated to have difficulty completing study follow up, in the opinion of the investigator.

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: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Prednisone
40 mg PO once daily for 14 days starting day of surgery
Drug: Prednisone
40 mg PO once daily for 14 days starting day of surgery
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
placebo tablet PO once daily for 14 days starting day of surgery
Drug: Placebo
Placebo tablet (cellulose) PO once daily for 14 days starting day of surgery

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of patient recruitment
Time Frame: 6 months
Percentage of patients approached for recruitment who consent to study participation
6 months
Proportion of patient adherence to treatment allocation and protocol - determined by patient self-reporting
Time Frame: 6 months
Percentage of patients enrolled in the study who report to completing their 14-day course of treatment
6 months
Proportion of patients with missing data from secondary and tertiary outcomes
Time Frame: 6 months
Percentage of enrolled patients who do not have complete secondary and tertiary outcome measures
6 months
Proportion of patient consent withdrawal from the study
Time Frame: 6 months
Percentage of patients enrolled in the study who withdraw before completion of the study
6 months
Proportion of complete patient follow up at 6 months
Time Frame: 6 months
Percentage of enrolled patients who complete all follow up visits
6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Resolution of CRPS
Time Frame: 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
The treating surgeon or care team will determine whether patients continue to meet criteria for CRPS diagnosis based on the Budapest CRPS Criteria
2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Total opioid consumption
Time Frame: 2 weeks
Total opioids consumed post-op converted to morphine milligram equivalents by assessing remaining hydromorphone tablets
2 weeks
Adverse effects
Time Frame: 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Adverse effects will be recorded. These can include but are not limited to mood changes, altered sleep, swelling of extremities, dizziness, headache, weight gain, elevated blood glucose, elevated blood pressure, upset stomach, gastrointestinal bleeding, wound complications, myopathy, infections, venous thromboembolism, hear failure, and adrenal insufficiency.
2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score
Time Frame: 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Score out of 10 to monitor pain level
2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Centre of Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) score
Time Frame: 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
to monitor for presence of depression
2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Short Form-36 item (SF-36) questionnaire
Time Frame: 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
to measure patient reported quality of life
2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
Passive wrist range of motion (ROM)
Time Frame: 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
dorsiflexion, palmarflexion, supination, pronation, and finger to palm distance will be measured and recorded by the physiotherapist at each follow up visit
2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
The disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire
Time Frame: 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
to measure patient reported upper extremity disability and symptoms
2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
The Brief Resiliency Scale (BRS) questionnaire
Time Frame: 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months
to assess patient reported ability to cope with stress
2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Collaborators

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: David Stockton, MD, MASc, FRCSC, University of British Columbia

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)

October 10, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 5, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 5, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

June 11, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 27, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • H23-02327

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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