Objectives: 

To compare short-term functional outcomes, reduction loss, and rates of surgery for distal radius fractures initially immobilized with a traditional sugar-tong splint versus clamshell splint freeing the elbow.

Design: 

Prospective randomized trial.

Setting: 

Level 1 trauma center.

Patients: 

Eighty-nine consecutive patients sustaining distal radius fractures were enrolled between 2018 and 2020. Short-term first follow-up (1–2 weeks) radiographic parameters and 6 weeks for functional questionnaires were established to assess initial outcomes.

Main Outcome Measures: 

The main outcome measures were reduction loss based on radiographic criteria, rate of surgery, and short-term patient functional outcome using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score.

Results: 

There were no differences noted in DASH scores (P-value = 0.8) or loss of reduction (P-value = 0.69), and splint type was not correlated with likelihood to have surgery (P = 0.22). A binomial regression model demonstrated splint type was not a significant predictor variable of loss of fracture reduction in the regression model.

Conclusions: 

These results suggest both sugar-tong splint and clamshell splint construct are acceptable options in the acute management of distal radius fractures.

Level of Evidence: 

Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

中文翻译：

---

桡骨远端骨折夹板结构的临床和影像学比较：释放肘部的努力

目标： 

比较最初使用传统糖钳夹板与释放肘部的蛤壳夹板固定的桡骨远端骨折的短期功能结果、复位损失和手术率。

设计： 

前瞻性随机试验。

环境： 

一级创伤中心。

患者： 

在 2018 年至 2020 年期间，连续招募了 89 名桡骨远端骨折患者。建立了短期首次随访（1-2 周）放射学参数和 6 周的功能问卷以评估初始结果。

主要观察指标： 

主要结果测量是基于放射学标准、手术率和使用手臂、肩部和手部残疾 (DASH) 评分的短期患者功能结果的减少损失。

结果： 

DASH 评分（ P值 = 0.8）或复位损失（P值 = 0.69）没有差异，夹板类型与手术可能性无关（P = 0.22）。二项式回归模型表明夹板类型不是回归模型中骨折复位损失的重要预测变量。

结论： 

这些结果表明，糖钳夹板和蛤壳夹板结构在桡骨远端骨折的急性治疗中都是可接受的选择。

证据等级： 

治疗级别 I。有关证据级别的完整描述，请参见作者说明。