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New Study on Radius Fracture Treatment in Elderly Suggests Non-Operative Treatment May be Just as Effective

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study conducted by researchers from Tampere University Hospital in Finland has shed new light on the treatment of distal radius fractures (DRFs) in adults over the age of 65. According to the study, non-operative treatment, such as casting alone, may be just as effective as closed reduction followed by casting in patients aged 65 years or older. The study, which aims to enroll 532 patients, will evaluate the outcomes of non-reduction versus closed reduction in patients with a displaced DRF.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study aims to evaluate whether non-reduction is equivalent to closed reduction in patients aged 65 years or older with a displaced DRF, based on wrist-related pain and disability measured by the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score at 12 months.
  • The primary endpoint is the difference between groups assessed using the PRWE outcome score at 12 months, with an equivalence margin set at 6 PRWE points.
  • The study will also assess secondary endpoints, including the Numeric Rating Scale for pain, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and serious adverse events at 3 months and 12 months.
  • The study has been granted ethical approval by the Ethics Committee of Tampere University Hospital and will be conducted in hospitals in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Estonia.

Statistics:

  • 532 patients aged 65 years or older with a displaced DRF will be enrolled in the study.
  • The study aims to assess outcomes at 12 months post-treatment.
  • The equivalence margin for the primary endpoint is set at 6 PRWE points.
  • The study will also assess secondary endpoints at 3 months and 12 months, including pain, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and serious adverse events.

Sources:

  • NewsReport-Staff News Editor (2025, October 31). Fresh Data on Radius Fracture Treatment in Elderly Suggests Non-Operative Treatment May Be Just as Effective. Health & Medicine Week. 4511.
  • Karna, L., Ponkilainen, V., Reito, A., ... & Launonen, A. P. (2025). Effect of no reduction versus closed reduction on distal radius fractures in adults aged 65 years and older: a protocol for the DISCLOSE randomised equivalence trial. BMJ Open, 15(10). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-011234
  • BMJ Publishing Group (Publisher). (2025). BMJ Open. British Medical Association House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England.

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