Abstract
The goals of distal radius fracture treatment in patients above 65 years of age would not change over time if the fracture were the only factor to consider. However, people change, and fixation methods also change. Since this fracture heals in nearly every case and volar plates have eliminated the worry of malunion, we are left with two main goals. In active patients with weakened bones, the aim is to help them regain their quality of life as quickly as possible while avoiding iatrogenic conditions. This compromise is possible because of new tools—but at what price?
Similar content being viewed by others
References
HAS (2006) Ostéodensitométrie (absorbimétrie osseuse) sur 2 sites par méthode biphotonique. https://www.has-sante.fr/portail/upload/docs/application/pdf/osteodensitometrie_rapport.pdf. Accessed 11 Apr 2018
Hegeman JH, Oskam J, van der Palen J, Ten Duis HJ, Vierhout PA (2004) The distal radial fracture in elderly women and the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and hip. J Hand Surg Br 29:473–476
Danish Health Authority (2016) National clinical guideline on the treatment of distal radial fractures. Danish Health Authority Islands Brygge 67 DK-2300 Copenhagen S Denmark. http://www.sst.dk/english. Accessed 11 Apr 2018
Zelle BA, Zlowodzki M (2012) Distal radius fractures. In: Bhandari M (ed) Evidences-based orthopedics. Wiley Blackwell, Hamilton, p 425
Grewal R (2012) Acute management of distal radius fractures. In: Bhandari M (ed) Evidence-based orthopedics. Wiley Blackwell, Hamilton, pp 913–922
Mac Dermid JC, Grewal R (2012) Prognosis, pain and disability after distal radius fracture. In: Bhandari M (ed) Evidences-based orthopedics. Wiley Blackwell, Hamilton, pp 923–929
Monica JT, Ring D (2012) Reconstruction of malunited distal radius. In: Bhandari M (ed) Evidences-based orthopedics. Wiley Blackwell, Hamilton, p 930
Drame M, Dia PA, Jolly D, Lang PO, Mahmoudi R, Schwebel G et al (2009) Factors predictive of long-term mortality in patients aged 75 years or older hospitalized from the emergency department: the SAFES cohort. Presse Med 38:1068–1075
Jacova C, Hsiung GY, Feldman HH (2006) Dropouts and refusals in observational studies. Neurology 14:S17–S20
Huard S, Blanchet N, Leclerc G, Rochet S, Lepage D, Garbuio P, Obert L (2010) Fractures of the distal radius in patients over 70 years old: volar plates or K-wires? Chir Main 29:236–241
Loisel F, Bouilloux X, Uhring J, Rochet S, Obert L (2015) Early postoperative improvements in the QuickDASH score after distal radius fracture are related to the type of surgical treatment. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 25:865–869
Arora R, Lutz M, Deml C, Krappinger D, Haug L, Gabl M (2011) A prospective randomized trial comparing nonoperative treatment with volar locking plate fixation for displaced and unstable distal radial fractures in patients sixty-five years of age and older. J Bone Joint Surg Am 7(93):2146–2153
Kim JK, Koh YD, Kook SH (2011) Effect of calcium phosphate bone cement augmentation on volar plate fixation of unstable distal radial fractures in the elderly. J Bone Joint Surg Am 93(7):609–614
Smeraglia F, Del Buono A, Maffulli N (2016) Wrist arthroscopy in the management of articular distal radius fractures. Br Med Bull 119(1):157–165
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
L. Obert declares that he has no conflicts of interest directly related to this article, but has conflicts of interest with the following companies: FX solutions, Zimmer Biomet, Medartis, Evolutis, Wright, Lilly, Elsevier, Springer. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Loisel, F., Bourgeois, M., Rondot, T. et al. Treatment goals for distal radius fractures in 2018: recommendations and practical advice. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 28, 1465–1468 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-018-2196-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-018-2196-9