DISTAL RADIAL FRACTURES IN PATIENTS OVER 60 YEARS OLD: ORTHOGONAL PLATES VERSUS VOLAR PLATE

Objective: To compare the results from surgical treatment between volar plates with angular stability and orthogonal plates in unstable distal radius fractures, in patients aged over 60 years. Methods: The patients were divided into two groups that were treated with volar plates or orthogonal plates. Clinical and radiographic results were analyzed prospectively. Results: The study groups presented similar clinical and radiographic results six months after the operation. However, three months after the surgery, the volar plate group had superior results. Conclusion: Both group presented good functional results. Surgical treatment enabled early rehabilitation. The orthogonal plate technique required a longer learning curve, presented more complications and worse initial results.