Non-surgical casting versus surgical reduction for children with severely displaced distal radial fractures (the CRAFFT Study): a multicentre, randomised, controlled non-inferiority trial and economic evaluation.

Lancet (London, England)·April 18, 2026·PMID 41965242

Why it matters

This large, pragmatic RCT provides high-quality evidence on a common and controversial pediatric injury. It challenges the routine use of surgical reduction by showing that a cast-first approach yields nearly equivalent functional outcomes, fewer early complications, and substantial cost savings, supporting shared decision-making.