[Results of therapy after primary conservative management of distal radius fractures in patients over 65 years of age].
BACKGROUND
In the clinical routine of our City Hospital Triemli, Zürich, Switzerland, we prefer to treat old patients with fractures of the distal radius conservatively. It was our aim to examine the long-term effects of this treatment on anatomical position, mobility, strength, and patient satisfaction.


METHODS
We reviewed the data of 102 consecutive patients over 65 years of age. 95 were treated with a plaster cast and controlled weekly in our outpatient department, finally discharged after 50 days. After an average time of eight months, 79 patients could be controlled clinically and radiologically.


RESULTS
Although a significant (p < 0.001) reduction of joint mobility and grip strength was found in all cases, we documented no loss of independence in every-day life. Radiological malalignment of the distal radius with a dorsal or palmar angle of more than 20 degrees in the lateral view or a radio-ulnar angle of less than 15 degrees in the dorsopalmar view was associated with increased complaints and patients dissatisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
In old-aged patients with distal radius fractures, the indication for surgical treatment should be made very carefully, since certain degrees of radiological malalignment are tolerated well.
Jakob
M
M
Chirurgischen Universitätsklinik des Kantonsspitals Basel.
Mielke
S
S
Keller
H
H
Metzger
U
U
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001864:Bone Wires; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome