External Fixation and Adjuvant Pins Versus Volar Locking Plates in Unstable Distal Radius Fractures: A Randomized Controlled Study with a 10-Year Follow-Up

Key Points

• External fixation with adjuvant pins shows comparable outcomes to volar locking plates in treating unstable distal radius fractures.
• The ten-year follow-up reveals no significant functional differences between the two interventions in this patient population.
• This randomized controlled study analyzed recovery metrics for patients with unstable fractures over the long term.
• The findings highlight the validity of using external fixation, suggesting it remains a viable option for similar future cases.