SynthesisBone & joint open2025
Operative management of displaced fractures of the distal radius is associated with improved function but not in older adults : systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Bone & joint open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Aims: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the patient-reported outcomes of operative and nonoperative management in adults with a fracture of the distal radius, with a focus on the outcomes in older patients (aged ≥ 65 years). Methods: Randomized controlled trials comparing operative and nonoperative management of patients aged ≥ 18 years with dorsally displaced distal radius fractures were included. Operative management included open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), manipulation and Kirschner-wiring, or external fixation. Nonoperative management included cast/splint immobilization with or without closed reduction. Primary outcome was the 12-month Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE). Additional outcomes included the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), pain, complications, and radiological parameters. A sub-group analysis was undertaken for studies that reported outcomes in older adults (aged ≥ 65 years). Results: After screening 1,635 studies, 19 trials with 2,178 patients (mean age 63 years (18 to 98), 74% female) were included. Seven studies reported outcomes in older patients (n = 773). There were statistical but not clinically significant differences favouring surgery for PRWE at three months (mean difference (MD) -8.70, 95% CI -14.45 to -2.95; p = 0.003) and 12 months (MD -2.96, 95% CI -5.15 to -0.77; p = 0.008). There was a statistical but not clinically significant difference in DASH at three months (MD -10.58, 95% CI -13.15 to -8.01; p < 0.00001) and 12 months (MD -4.17, 95% CI -6.05 to -2.30; p < 0.001) favouring surgery. There was no difference in complications (odds ratio (OR) 0.95, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.76; p = 0.880). For older adults, there was no difference in the PRWE at three months (MD -8.53, 95% CI -18.13 to 1.07; p = 0.080) or 12 months (MD -2.13, 95% CI -4.60 to 0.33; p = 0.090), with no difference in complications (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.21 to 2.49; p = 0.620). Conclusion: Operative management of adult dorsally displaced distal radius fractures was associated with superior functional outcomes according to the PRWE and DASH, but whether these are clinically meaningful is debatable. However, in older adults there was no significant or clinically meaningful benefit of surgery.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.