title: Dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius: a critical appraisal of the DRAFFT (distal radius acute fracture fixation trial) study.
abstract: The results of the DRAFFT (distal radius acute fracture fixation trial) study, which compared volar plating with Kirschner (K-) wire fixation for dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius, were published in August 2014. The use of K-wires to treat these fractures is now increasing, with a concomitant decline in the use of volar locking plates. We provide a critical appraisal of the DRAFFT study and question whether surgeons have been unduly influenced by its headline conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Derriford Road, Plymouth PL6 8DH, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fullilove
authors.affiliation: Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Derriford Road, Plymouth PL6 8DH, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gozzard
mesh_terms: D017760:Bone Malalignment / Q000601:surgery; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000601:surgery
keywords: DRAFFT study; critical appraisal