Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis and Functional Outcomes After Volar Plating vs. Casting of Unstable Distal Radius...

Background/Objectives: Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are among the most common fractures in the elderly, with increasing incidence due to population aging. Recent evidence questions the benefits of operative treatment, particularly in elderly patients. The present study aimed to assess post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after a minimum of two years of follow-up of the previously published VOLCON randomized controlled trial (RCT), which compared operative and non-operative treatments of unstable DRFs in patients aged ≥ 65 years. Methods: This study presents a minimum two-year follow-up of a single-center, assessor-blinded RCT. A total of 100 patients with unstable DRFs were randomized to either operative treatment with volar locking plating or non-operative treatment with cast immobilization. The primary outcome was post-traumatic OA, assessed using the Knirk and Jupiter classification. Secondary outcomes included PROMs (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick-DASH)) and Patient-Rated Wrist/Hand Evaluation (PRWHE), complications, pain, grip strength, and range of motion (ROM). Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA. Results: After a median follow-up of 3.0 years, 60 patients (28 non-operative and 32 operative) were available for analysis. There was no significant difference in OA between the groups (p = 0.57). PROMs (Quick-DASH, PRWHE), pain, grip strength, and ROM were time-dependent (p < 0.001) but not treatment-dependent. Complications were more frequent in the operative group, including hardware-related issues requiring reoperation. Conclusions: At a minimum of two years of follow-up, no correlation was found between treatment choice and post-traumatic OA. Functional outcomes were similar between groups, suggesting that non-operative treatment remains a viable option for elderly patients with unstable DRFs.