Utilization of Surgical Fixation for Distal Radius Fractures in the United States: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Purpose

In contrast to younger adult populations, clinical practice guidelines state that there is no difference in long-term functional outcomes in surgically versus nonoperatively treated distal radius fractures in patients ≥65 years old. In this study, we asked the following questions: (1) has treatment for distal radius fractures in younger and older adult populations changed over time? (2) What patient and surgeon factors are associated with treatment trends?

Methods

Using a national administrative claims database, we identified patients aged ≥18 years with isolated, closed distal radius fractures, subdivided by age (18–64 years, ≥65 years old). We characterized the proportion of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) over time. We stratified our analysis by surgeon subspecialty, region, and mean area income. Changes in ORIF utilization over time were evaluated using linear regression models.

Results

The proportion of distal radius ORIF, including in patients aged ≥65 years, increased from 10.4% in 2012 to 15.1% in 2020. Of the ORIF procedures performed, hand surgeons accounted for an increasing proportion over time, with a corresponding decrease in those performed by general orthopedic surgeons. The proportion of ORIF increased over time in all US regions, with the largest rate of increase in the Midwest for patients aged ≥65 years and Northeast for patients aged 18–64 years. Patients living in areas with mean family income ≥$65,000 were more likely to undergo ORIF.

Conclusions

The proportion of distal radius ORIF including in older adult populations is increasing in all US regions, and an increasing proportion is performed by hand surgeons.

Clinical relevance

Further analysis of the drivers of these trends is warranted, given the rising incidence of surgical treatment in older patients, which could reflect evolving patient activity demands and suggest a need to further evaluate conventional treatment algorithms based on age.