P E Zollinger

Dr P E Zollinger, Ziekenhuis Rivierenland, The Netherlands; pe.zollinger@tiscali.nl

STUDY DESIGN

Design:

randomised controlled trial.

Allocation:

{concealed}*.†

Blinding:

blinded (patients and physicians).†

Setting:

emergency departments in 3 hospitals in the Netherlands.

STUDY QUESTION

Patients:

416 patients, ⩾18 years of age, with 427 wrist fractures (82% in women).

Intervention:

1 of 3 daily doses of vitamin C (200 mg [n = 96 fractures], 500 mg [n = 114], or 1500 mg [n = 118]) or placebo (n = 99), started on the day of the fracture and taken in 2 capsules/day for 50 days.

Outcomes:

complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type 1 within 1 year after fracture, diagnosed if 4 of the 5 following symptoms were present at or distal to the wrist and occurred or increased after …