A comparative study of Colles' fractures in patients between fifty and seventy years of age: percutaneous K-wiring versus volar locking plating

This retrospective study was to compare the clinical outcomes of volar locking plating (VLP) and percutaneous Kirschner wiring (PKW) for the management of displaced Colles type distal radius fractures in patients between 50 and 70 years old. There were 31 elderly patients with displaced Colles' fractures treated by VLP. We compared them to 31 match-paired patients treated by PKW. The patients were matched according to age (within five years) and sex. All patients were followed up retrospectively for at least 12 months. The functional outcomes and radiological results were compared between the two groups. All fractures healed within three months. There were two complications (6.5%) in the PKW group and one complication (3.2%) in the VLP group. At final follow-up, wrist flexion, extension, and ulnar deviation were significantly better in the VLP group compared with the PKW group (all p values < 0.05). According to modified Green and O'Brien criteria, the VLP group showed a trend towards increased rate of satisfactory outcome compared with the PKW group (p = 0.09). For the treatment of displaced Colles' fractures in patients between 50 and 70 years old, both groups had high union rate and low complication rate. However, better functional results can be expected in association with open reduction and volar locking plating.