title: Is locking plate fixation a better option than casting for distal radius fracture in elderly people?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the outcomes of locking plate fixation versus casting for displaced distal radius fracture with unstable fracture pattern in active Chinese elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Historical cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Orthopaedic ward and clinic at Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1 May 2010 and 31 October 2013, 57 Chinese elderly people aged 61 to 80 years were treated either operatively with locking plate fixation (n=26) or conservatively with cast immobilisation (n=31) for unstable displaced distal radius fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical, radiological, and functional outcomes were assessed at 9 to 12 months after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The functional outcome (based on the quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score) was significantly better in the locking plate fixation group than in the cast immobilisation group, while clinical and radiological outcomes were comparable with those in other similar studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Locking plate fixation resulted in better functional outcome for displaced distal radius fracture with unstable fracture pattern in active Chinese elderly people aged 61 to 80 years. Further prospective study with long-term follow-up is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation; D017102:Fracture Healing; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Aged; Casts, surgical; Fracture fixation, internal; Radius fractures