© 2021 MJH Life Science and Diagnostic Imaging. all rights reserved.

© 2021 MJH Life Sciences™ and diagnostic imaging. all rights reserved.

A more personalized approach rooted in the needs of patients is a better course of action.

According to new research, X-rays should not be used to determine the treatment of common forearm fractures. Instead, the provider should give more consideration to the needs of the patient and his or her environment.

In a study published on JAMA Network Open on June 17, researchers from Michigan Medicine reported the results of a ten-year study that examined the treatment results of distal radius fractures. Based on their analysis, they determined that no single treatment is best for everyone.

However, they found that the core of X-rays should not be the basis for these treatment decisions that affect more than 85,000 Medicare beneficiaries each year.

"Traditionally, surgeons view these fractures on X-rays and they have to evaluate various repair methods based on the fracture anatomy and the age of the patient," said lead study author Kevin Chung, MD, Charles BG De Nancrede Professor of Surgery. "However, for For elderly patients, we determine patient-centered care and tailor specific treatment plans according to their needs, social environment and surgical risk tolerance. These are all considerations for prescription treatment."

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In this study, Chung's team examined data collected from 187 people undergoing fracture surgery in 20 medical centers around the world for more than a decade. The team divided the participants into several groups based on their treatment: volar locking plate, external fixation, and pinning. Another 117 patients refused surgery and chose casting.

They said that initially, patients who chose palm electroplating were able to perform daily tasks better, but after six months, their advantages over other treatment methods gradually disappeared. In addition, after 24 months, all patients reported similar pain scores, and everyone reported how satisfied they were with the results.

"For hand surgery, this is the most intense collaborative effort to try to answer a 200-year-old problem of distal radius fractures in the elderly," Chung said. "For this group of people, this is one of the most common fractures in the world-your parents and grandparents will get this type of fracture. For public health, we need to answer this question."

He said that in the end, the findings emphasized the importance of communication and interaction between the patient, his or her family and the surgeon. Through cooperation, they can determine the best personalized method to repair a patient's fracture and maximize their future capabilities and quality of life.

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