Casts likely a viable option for older patients with distal radial fractures

The best treatment for intra-articular distal radius fractures in elderly patients is not definite and it is unclear whether surgical management with volar locking plate fixation yields better functional outcomes or quality of life than cast immobilization. But, during the past decade, volar locking plates became the standard treatment for intra-articular distal radius fractures in elderly patients, Christoph Bartl, MD, said in a presentation.

“Our recently presented randomized trial showed cast immobilization is an effective treatment option for the majority of elderly patients with these types of fractures,” he told Orthopaedics Today Europe.

“We found a trend for better results in the surgical group in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores and wrist function after 12 months, but without a significant advantage. Higher fracture severity grades correlated with a higher conversion rate to secondary surgical management and the early advantage in the range of motion after 3 months diminished after 12 months and the conversion group achieved the same results like the primary surgical intervention group,” Bartl said in his presentation.

Click here to read the full story in the June issue of Orthopaedics Today Europe.