Conservative Treatment vs. Volar Plating of Distal Radius Fractures

Volar plating has became as a standard approach for treating unstable distal radius fractures. The incidence of surgically treated patients with distal radius fractures has increased many fold from the beginning of this millennium, owing mostly to increased number of volar platings. The most striking increase of plate fixations has occurred in older patient groups, especially in females. With volar fixed-angle plate, very near-anatomic, stable fixation with relatively low complication rate, can be achieved even in osteoporotic bone. There are only few randomized, prospective studies comparing results of volar plating and conservative treatment, comparing patients aged over 65 years. Quite little is known of the results comparing conservative treatment and volar plating in patients aged below 65 years.

Main goal of our study was to compare the functional and radiological results of conservative treatment and volar fixed-angle plating in the management of distal radius fracture in patients aged over 50 years an older.

Inclusion criteria

• patients over 50 years-old
• primary dislocated distal radius fracture (AO/OTA 23 type A2-3 and C1-2)
• primary reduction of fracture is acceptable considering primary conservative treatment

Exclusion criteria

• bilateral and open fractures and fractures with neurovascular compromise
• other major concurrent fracture necessitating treatment of any kind
• patients under 50 years of age
• previous ipsilateral distal radius fracture
• inflammatory joint disease
• significant radiocarpal-joint degeneration
• patient's bad co-operation or major co-morbidity making an operation contraindicated