A meta-analysis of outcomes in Colles fractures treated conservatively in elderly patients

Background: Fractures of the distal end of radius or Colles' fracture was first described by Sir Abraham Colles in nineteenth century. It commonly occurs in the elderly people having osteoporosis. It is caused by fall on the outstretched hand. In Colles fracture, the fragments are usually displaced &impacted in elderly people because of fragile bone. In elderly patients with Colles fracture, there is always a lacuna created at the impacted site of fracture in the metaphyseal bone & this void at fracture site between the distal and proximal fragments results in collapse of the fracture fragments. This leads to mal union with gross functional impairment. Even then, these fractures are very well reduced and immobilized with plaster. However, these fractures are having predisposition to collapse due to formation of void especially in the elderly patients. These patients develop deformity if treated without any sort of surgical management for example internal fixation, external fixation, percutaneous pinning, with or without bone grafting. Results & Conclusion: Our retrospective study of 100 Colles' fractures treated conservatively by closed reduction & plaster immobilizations showed all the cases of Colles' fractures had developed mal union & functional impairments ranging from minor to disabling activities of daily living.