A PILOT STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF PRAMIPEXOLE IN CALLUS FORMATION IN DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURES IN PERIMENOPAUSAL FEMALES

Abstract

This is a pilot study that was conducted over a period of three months in Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, on the effect of Pramipexole on distal radius fracture callus formation in perimenopausal females (40 – 60 years). There were a total of 11 patients studied during a period of 3 months. Cases were followed for 4 complete weeks following discharge after applying proper manipulation and reduction of fracture and subsequent application of plaster cast. Ultrasonography of the distal end of affected radius was utilized to estimate volume of callus formation. Two treatment arms (one with pramipexole and one with symptomatic treatment) were created and their efcacy with regard to callus formation was observed. Following cleaning of data, mean case volume was found to be two whole orders of magnitudes greater than mean control volume. Welch’s T-test was subsequently carried out and showed a near statistically signicant large effect size of 1.21 (p=0.055, t=2.046, right tailed). This effect size is quite large and may be taken to indicate signicant clinical relevance of using pramipexole. Further studies are recommended to follow up on these results, with increased sample size, and multiple measurements of callus volume to observe the dose-callus-time relationship. In conclusion, this drug seems a promising cost-effective way to augment and speed up callus formation with good clinical outcome.