Early palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures may benefit patients aged 50 years or older: a randomized trial comparing 2 different treatment protocols

Background and purpose — There is no consensus regarding optimal treatment of displaced distal radius fractures (DRFs). We compared the results of 2 treatment protocols: early palmar plating vs. primary nonoperative treatment of displaced DRFs. Patients and methods — We performed a prospective rando...

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Main Authors: Kai Sirniö, Juhana Leppilahti, Pasi Ohtonen, Tapio Flinkkilä
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2019-03-01
Series:Acta Orthopaedica
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17453674.2018.1561614
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author Kai Sirniö
Juhana Leppilahti
Pasi Ohtonen
Tapio Flinkkilä
author_facet Kai Sirniö
Juhana Leppilahti
Pasi Ohtonen
Tapio Flinkkilä
author_sort Kai Sirniö
collection DOAJ
description Background and purpose — There is no consensus regarding optimal treatment of displaced distal radius fractures (DRFs). We compared the results of 2 treatment protocols: early palmar plating vs. primary nonoperative treatment of displaced DRFs. Patients and methods — We performed a prospective randomized controlled study including 80 patients aged ≥ 50 years with dorsally displaced DRFs, excluding AO type C3 fractures. Patients were randomized to undergo either immediate surgery with palmar plating (n = 38), or initial nonoperative treatment (n = 42) after successful closed reduction in both groups. Delayed surgery was performed in nonoperatively treated patients showing early loss of alignment (n = 16). The primary outcome measure was Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score. Results — Mean DASH scores at 24 months in the early surgery group were 7.9 vs. 14 in the initial nonoperative group (difference between means 6, 95% CI 0.1–11, p = 0.05). Delayed operation was performed on 16/42 of patients due to secondary displacement in the initial nonoperative group. In “as treated” analysis, DASH scores were 7 in the early surgery group, 13 in the nonoperative group, and 17 after delayed surgery (p = 0.02). The difference in DASH scores between early and delayed surgery was 9 points (CI 0.3–19, p = 0.02) Interpretation — Treatment of DRFs with early palmar plating resulted in better 2-year functional outcomes for ≥50-year-old patients compared with a primary nonoperative treatment protocol. Delayed surgery in case of secondary displacement was not beneficial in terms of function.
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spelling doaj.art-61987b61aedc49b4ad4524b564335d802022-12-22T04:14:31ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Orthopaedica1745-36741745-36822019-03-0190212312810.1080/17453674.2018.15616141561614Early palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures may benefit patients aged 50 years or older: a randomized trial comparing 2 different treatment protocolsKai Sirniö0Juhana Leppilahti1Pasi Ohtonen2Tapio Flinkkilä3Oulu University HospitalOulu University HospitalOulu University HospitalOulu University HospitalBackground and purpose — There is no consensus regarding optimal treatment of displaced distal radius fractures (DRFs). We compared the results of 2 treatment protocols: early palmar plating vs. primary nonoperative treatment of displaced DRFs. Patients and methods — We performed a prospective randomized controlled study including 80 patients aged ≥ 50 years with dorsally displaced DRFs, excluding AO type C3 fractures. Patients were randomized to undergo either immediate surgery with palmar plating (n = 38), or initial nonoperative treatment (n = 42) after successful closed reduction in both groups. Delayed surgery was performed in nonoperatively treated patients showing early loss of alignment (n = 16). The primary outcome measure was Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score. Results — Mean DASH scores at 24 months in the early surgery group were 7.9 vs. 14 in the initial nonoperative group (difference between means 6, 95% CI 0.1–11, p = 0.05). Delayed operation was performed on 16/42 of patients due to secondary displacement in the initial nonoperative group. In “as treated” analysis, DASH scores were 7 in the early surgery group, 13 in the nonoperative group, and 17 after delayed surgery (p = 0.02). The difference in DASH scores between early and delayed surgery was 9 points (CI 0.3–19, p = 0.02) Interpretation — Treatment of DRFs with early palmar plating resulted in better 2-year functional outcomes for ≥50-year-old patients compared with a primary nonoperative treatment protocol. Delayed surgery in case of secondary displacement was not beneficial in terms of function.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17453674.2018.1561614
spellingShingle Kai Sirniö
Juhana Leppilahti
Pasi Ohtonen
Tapio Flinkkilä
Early palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures may benefit patients aged 50 years or older: a randomized trial comparing 2 different treatment protocols
Acta Orthopaedica
title Early palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures may benefit patients aged 50 years or older: a randomized trial comparing 2 different treatment protocols
title_full Early palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures may benefit patients aged 50 years or older: a randomized trial comparing 2 different treatment protocols
title_fullStr Early palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures may benefit patients aged 50 years or older: a randomized trial comparing 2 different treatment protocols
title_full_unstemmed Early palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures may benefit patients aged 50 years or older: a randomized trial comparing 2 different treatment protocols
title_short Early palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures may benefit patients aged 50 years or older: a randomized trial comparing 2 different treatment protocols
title_sort early palmar plate fixation of distal radius fractures may benefit patients aged 50 years or older a randomized trial comparing 2 different treatment protocols
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17453674.2018.1561614
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