Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the early reduction results in conservative treatment of distal radial fractures in geriatric patients.
Material and Methods: Patients aged over 60 years with displaced distal radius fractures who were treated with conservative treatment were included in the study. Follow-up X-rays of the patients at the 1st week were evaluated. Patients’ data were obtained from hospital information management system. We evaluated the patient's age, sex, fracture side, the mechanism of injury, type of AO/OTA classification, loss of reduction, and treatment methods.
Results: One hundred and nineteen patients of 132 geriatric patients with distal radius fracture were elligible for the inclusion criteria. 97.6% of patients with AO type 2R3A fracture were found to be within acceptable degrees of reduction in the 1st week of conservative treatment. Seven patients had a loss of reduction. Six had a high degree of dorsal angulation, and one had over 2mm step off. There was no significant difference in terms of conservative treatment success between extra-articular fractures and partial and complete intra-articular fractures (p=0.584).
Conclusion: We demonstrated that initial closed reduction and cast immobilization is an effective treatment method in the management of elderly patients with AO type 2R3A, 2R3B, and 2R3C distal radius fractures.