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

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow diagram.

Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

Displaced DRF (AO/OTA 23 type A2/A3 and C1/C2)

Duration of < 1 week from primary injury

Acceptable closed reduction achieved:

– dorsal angulation ≤ 10°

– radial inclination ≥ 15°

– ulnar variance < –3 mm

– articular step-off ≤ 2 mm

Exclusion criteria

Patients < 50 years old

Acceptable closed reduction not achieved

(see inclusion criteria)

Bilateral/open fractures

Fractures with neurovascular compromise

Previous ipsilateral DRF

Inflammatory joint disease

Radiocarpal joint degeneration

Limited cooperation or major comorbidity not allowing to

operate

Major concomitant fracture necessitating any operation

Table 2. Demographics. Values are number of patients unless otherwise indicated

Factor	Early surgery group	Control group
	(n = 38)	(n = 42)
Age in years, mean (range)	62 (50–79)	64 (50–82)
Age ratio, < 65/≥ 65 years	23/15	23/19
Sex, female/male	37/1	39/3
Dominant hand involved	15	17
AO classification
A	23	25
C	15	17

Figure 2. DASH scores for main study groups at follow-up points. Scores are presented as median with 25th and 75th percentiles. The p-values were determined according to a linear mixed model (LMM): p_time < 0.001, p_group = 0.04, and p_{time x group} = 0.6.