Distal radius fracture reduction prior to plating-based fixation likely clinically unnecessary

LAS VEGAS — Reduction of a distal radius fracture before plating-based fixation may be clinically unnecessary, according to a speaker at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, here.

“We do not want this study to encourage surgery before reduction and immobilization,” Teun Teunis, MD, said in his presentation, “but when the patient and surgeon prefer surgery, no matter what manipulative reduction might achieve … our data suggest it might be reasonable to forego an attempt at reduction.”

Teunis and colleagues retrospectively reviewed 1,511 patients who had a distal radius fracture repaired via plating between Jan. 1, 2007, and Dec. 31, 2012. Overall adverse event rates and any subsequent surgery rates (determined via logistic regression) within 1 year of fixation were the primary focus of the study.

There were 102 (7%) patients who did not undergo reduction prior to fixation. Overall, 231 adverse events (211 patients) and 106 subsequent surgeries (88 patients) were observed. There were no significant differences in the number of adverse events, the rate at which adverse events occurred or subsequent surgeries between patients who did and did not undergo reduction, according to the researchers. – by Christian Ingram

Reference:

Teunis T, et al. Paper #578. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting; March 24-28, 2015; Las Vegas.

Disclosure: Teunis reports no relevant financial disclosures.