SAM aluminium splint for suspected wrist fractures

The Additional Pain Relieving Benefit of Using a Splint in Suspected Wrist Fractures in Adult Patients at an Emergency Department - a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Not applicable Interventional Region Skane · NCT07553000

This study will see if adding a SAM aluminium splint to usual care reduces pain for people with suspected wrist fractures who come to the emergency department.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment120 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorRegion Skane Academic / other
Locations1 site (Malmö)
Trial IDNCT07553000 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized controlled trial enrolls emergency department patients with suspected distal radius fractures and moderate-to-severe pain (NRS 5–10). Participants are randomized to receive standard pain relief alone or standard pain relief plus a SAM aluminium splint. The primary outcome is pain on the numeric rating scale measured one hour after treatment, and secondary outcomes include pain medication use, any negative impact on radiology results, and reported side effects. The study is conducted in the emergency department at Malmö University Hospital.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients presenting to the emergency department with a suspected distal radius fracture and moderate-to-severe pain (NRS 5–10) who receive X-ray evaluation.

Not a fit: Patients without an X-ray-verified fracture or those with low pain scores (below NRS 5) are unlikely to receive benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, adding the SAM aluminium splint could reduce short-term pain and lower the need for additional pain medication for patients with suspected wrist fractures in the ED.

How similar studies have performed: Splints like the SAM splint are commonly used for immobilization, but randomized evidence specifically showing short-term pain reduction in this setting is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* NRS 5-10
* Suspected distal fracture of radius

Exclusion Criteria:

* No X-ray veriefied fracture.

Where this trial is running

Malmö

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Wrist InjuriesWrist FracturePain, Acute
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.