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Assessment of Anatomic Restoration of Distal Radius Fractures Among Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Chung, KC; Cho, HE; Kim, Y; Kim, HM; Shauver, MJ; WRIST Group,
Published in: JAMA Netw Open
January 3, 2020

IMPORTANCE: The value of precise anatomic restoration for distal radius fractures (DRFs) in older adults has been debated for many decades, with conflicting results in the literature. In light of the growing population of adults aged 60 years and older, both fracture incidence and associated treatment costs are expected to increase. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between radiographic measures of reduction and patient outcomes after DRF in older patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected from the Wrist and Radius Injury Surgical Trial (WRIST), a multicenter randomized clinical trial of DRF treatments for adults aged 60 years and older (enrollment from April 10, 2012, to December 31, 2016, with a 2-year follow-up). Data analysis was performed from January 3, 2019, to August 19, 2019. WRIST participants who completed 12-month assessments were included in the study. According to the biomechanical principle of alignment, 2-phase multivariable regression models were adopted to assess the association between radiographic measures of reduction and functional and patient-reported outcomes 12 months following treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomized to receive volar locking plate, percutaneous pinning, or external fixation. Those who opted for nonoperative treatment received casts. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Hand grip strength, wrist arc of motion, radial deviation, ulnar deviation, the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) total score, MHQ function score, and MHQ activities of daily living score were measured at 12 months following treatment. RESULTS: Data from 166 WRIST participants (144 [86.7%] women; mean [SD] age, 70.9 [8.9] years) found that only 2 of the 84 correlation coefficients calculated were statistically significant. For patients aged 70 years or older, every degree increase in radial inclination away from normal (22°) grip strength in the injured hand was 1.1 kg weaker than the uninjured hand (95% CI, 0.38-1.76; P = .004) and each millimeter increase toward normal (0 mm) in ulnar variance was associated with a 10.4-point improvement in MHQ ADL score (95% CI, -16.84 to -3.86; P = .003). However, neither of these radiographic parameters appeared to be associated with MHQ total or function scores. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The study results suggest that precise restoration of wrist anatomy is not associated with better patient outcomes for older adults with DRF 12 months following treatment. Surgeons can consider this evidence to improve quality of care by prioritizing patient preferences and efficient use of resources over achieving exact realignment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01589692.

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Published In

JAMA Netw Open

DOI

EISSN

2574-3805

Publication Date

January 3, 2020

Volume

3

Issue

1

Start / End Page

e1919433

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Radius Fractures
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal
  • Female
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Casts, Surgical
  • Bone Plates
  • Aged, 80 and over
 

Citation

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MLA
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Chung, K. C., Cho, H. E., Kim, Y., Kim, H. M., Shauver, M. J., & WRIST Group, . (2020). Assessment of Anatomic Restoration of Distal Radius Fractures Among Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open, 3(1), e1919433. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.19433
Chung, Kevin C., Hoyune E. Cho, Yeonil Kim, H Myra Kim, Melissa J. Shauver, and Melissa J. WRIST Group. “Assessment of Anatomic Restoration of Distal Radius Fractures Among Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA Netw Open 3, no. 1 (January 3, 2020): e1919433. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.19433.
Chung KC, Cho HE, Kim Y, Kim HM, Shauver MJ, WRIST Group. Assessment of Anatomic Restoration of Distal Radius Fractures Among Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jan 3;3(1):e1919433.
Chung, Kevin C., et al. “Assessment of Anatomic Restoration of Distal Radius Fractures Among Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA Netw Open, vol. 3, no. 1, Jan. 2020, p. e1919433. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.19433.
Chung KC, Cho HE, Kim Y, Kim HM, Shauver MJ, WRIST Group. Assessment of Anatomic Restoration of Distal Radius Fractures Among Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jan 3;3(1):e1919433.

Published In

JAMA Netw Open

DOI

EISSN

2574-3805

Publication Date

January 3, 2020

Volume

3

Issue

1

Start / End Page

e1919433

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Radius Fractures
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal
  • Female
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Casts, Surgical
  • Bone Plates
  • Aged, 80 and over