The role of Gel-Ppy-modified nerve conduit on the repair of sciatic nerve defect in rat model.

The serious clinical challenge of peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is nerve regeneration. Nerve conduit represents a promising strategy to contribute to nerve regeneration by bridging injured nerve gaps. However, due to a unique microenvironment of nerve tissue, autologous nerves have not been substituted by nerve conduit. Nerve regeneration after nerve conduit implantation depends on many factors, such as conductivity and biocompatibility. Therefore, Gelatin (Gel) with biocompatibility and polypyrrole (Ppy) with conductivity is highly concerned. In this paper, Gel-Ppy modified nerve conduit was fabricated with great biocompatibility and conductivity to evaluate its properties of enhancing nerve regeneration in vivo and in vitro. The proliferation of Schwann cells on Gel-Ppy modified nerve conduit was remarkably increased. Consistent with in vitro results, the Gel-Ppy nerve conduit could contribute to the regeneration of Schwann cell in vivo. The axon diameters and myelin sheath thickness were also enhanced, resulting in the amelioration of muscle atrophy, nerve conduction, and motor function recovery. To explain this interesting phenomenon, western blot results indicated that the Gel-Ppy conduit facilitated nerve regeneration via upregulating the Rap1 pathway to induce neurite outgrowth. Therefore, the above results demonstrated that Gel-Ppy modified nerve conduit could provide an acceptable microenvironment for nerve regeneration and be popularized as a novel therapeutic strategy of PNI.

Chiral MoS2@BC fibrous membranes selectively promote peripheral nerve regeneration.

BACKGROUND: Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has excellent physical and chemical properties. Further, chiral MoS2 (CMS) exhibits excellent chiroptical and enantioselective effects, and the enantioselective properties of CMS have been studied for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Intriguingly, left- and right-handed materials have different effects on promoting the differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons. However, the effect of the enantioselectivity of chiral materials on peripheral nerve regeneration remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, CMS@bacterial cellulose (BC) scaffolds were fabricated using a hydrothermal approach. The CMS@BC films synthesized with L-2-amino-3-phenyl-1-propanol was defined as L-CMS. The CMS@BC films synthesized with D-2-amino-3-phenyl-1-propanol was defined as D-CMS. The biocompatibility of CMS@BC scaffolds and their effect on Schwann cells (SCs) were validated by cellular experiments. In addition, these scaffolds were implanted in rat sciatic nerve defect sites for three months. RESULTS: These chiral scaffolds displayed high hydrophilicity, good mechanical properties, and low cytotoxicity. Further, we found that the L-CMS scaffolds were superior to the D-CMS scaffolds in promoting SCs proliferation. After three months, the scaffolds showed good biocompatibility in vivo, and the nerve conducting velocities of the L-CMS and D-CMS scaffolds were 51.2 m/s and 26.8 m/s, respectively. The L-CMS scaffolds showed a better regenerative effect than the D-CMS scaffolds. Similarly, the sciatic nerve function index and effects on the motor and electrophysiological functions were higher for the L-CMS scaffolds than the D-CMS scaffolds. Finally, the axon diameter and myelin sheath thickness of the regenerated nerves were improved in the L-CMS group. CONCLUSION: We found that the CMS@BC can promote peripheral nerve regeneration, and in general, the L-CMS group exhibited superior repair performance. Overall, the findings of this study reveal that CMS@BC can be used as a chiral nanomaterial nerve scaffold for peripheral nerve repair.

Differences between novel hybrid mode flaps and traditional perforator flaps at the level of metabolites using LC-MS.

The multi-territory perforator flaps are widely used in plastic surgery. However, partial necrosis flap in the potential territory remains a challenge to plastic surgeons. We raised a novel "hybrid nourished mode" (HNM) flap based on the multi-territory deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap to improve flap survival. Thirty-two rabbits were randomly divided into DIEP and HNM groups. Untargeted metabolic mechanisms between the DIEP and HNM groups were performed using LC-MS under the filter criteria of fold change >20.0 times or <0.05, and variable importance in projection (VIP) value was set at ≥1, P < 0.05. Between the two groups, flap survival, perfusion, microvasculature, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry of CD31 were assessed on post-operative day 7. We screened 16 different metabolites that mainly participated in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, aminoacyl transfer RNA biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, among others. The results of the HNM flaps were higher than those of the DIEP flaps (P < 0.05) in the aspects of flap survival, flap perfusion, and microvasculature. Compared with the DIEP flaps, HNM has a stronger advantage in tissue metabolism. This study provided us with a better understanding and strong evidence in terms of metabolites on how HNM achieves the survival of large multi-territory perforator flaps.

Risk Factors Associated With Misdiagnosis of Digital Glomus Tumor: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Glomus tumors are benign with unique triad of symptoms; however, the delayed diagnosis of these tumors is common. We investigated the possible risk factors for the misdiagnosis of digital glomus tumors, with an aim to treat these patients on time. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 104 patients with digital glomus tumors from October 2009 to February 2021. Data pertaining to sex, age, tumor locations, symptoms, imaging modalities, and clinical departments visited by the patients were extracted and analyzed through logistic regression. RESULTS: The duration of delayed diagnosis ranged from 3 months to 40 years (mean, 5.5 ± 6.5 years). The total misdiagnosis and recurrence rate are 34.6% and 3.8%, respectively. On the multivariate logistic regression, the misdiagnosis of digital glomus tumor was significantly associated with the clinical departments visited by the patients ( P < 0.001). The risk of misdiagnosis of nonhand surgery department visit is 179.741-fold higher than that of hand surgery department visit. CONCLUSIONS: The misdiagnosis rate of digital glomus tumor was closely related to the clinical departments visited by the patients. Hand surgeons are the first choice for the treatment of the tumor.

A metabolic investigation of arterialized venous flaps in rabbits using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics.

An arterialized venous flap (AVF) is an ideal choice of flap to repair wounds. However, the survival of these flaps remains the source of some concern. This study used metabolomic analysis to investigate the mechanisms underlying survival in AVF flaps in order to guide the clinical application of these flaps. Thirty-six male Japanese rabbits were randomly divided into a sham group and an AVF group. They were used for histology and hemodynamic investigations. Three days after surgery, tissue samples were analyzed by mass spectroscopy-based metabolomics. The results of the study revealed a reduction in blood flow, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and necrosis of flaps in the AVF group. In addition, notable changes were evident in the levels of several metabolites in the AVF group, including lactic acid, acetoacetic acid, inositol phosphate, arachidonic acid, and other metabolites. Our results indicate that the AVF group experienced changes in several biological pathways, including energy metabolism, cell membrane stability, and inflammatory response. There is a significant metabolic difference between AVFs and physiological flaps. The dysregulation in certain metabolites may be related to the specific hemodynamics and insufficient energy metabolism of the AVFs.

The Coverage of Soft-Tissue Defects Around the Foot and Ankle Using Free or Local Flaps: A Comparative Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the reconstructive outcomes of soft-tissue defects around foot and ankle with local or free flaps and attempt to provide an optimal strategy for these patients in comparison with the conventional guidelines. METHODS: A retrospective review of all continuous patients with foot and ankle reconstruction using different flaps from 2010 to 2018 was performed. Based on the flap types, the patients were divided into 2 groups: local flap group and free flap group. Outcomes were assessed according to the flap survival rate, recipient complications, aesthetic outcomes, and donor-site complications. RESULT: A total of 130 flaps including 47 free flaps and 83 local flaps were collected. There was no difference in flap survival rate between the 2 groups; however, a significant difference in aesthetic outcomes was noted between them: the free flap group presented a better overall aesthetic outcomes in comparison with the local flap group in terms of color and contour match. Moreover, local flaps had more donor-site morbidities including the need for skin grafting and wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: Free flaps in wound coverage of foot and ankle can achieve better outcomes than local flaps in terms of recipient benefits and donor-site compromise with a comparable flap survival rate.

Improvement of multiterritory perforator flap survival supported by a hybrid perfusion mode: A novel strategy and literature review.

Perforator flaps have been widely used in clinical Settings, however, unexpected necrosis was still commonly encountered in the distal portions of multiterritory flaps known as Choke zone III. In this study, we introduced a novel hybrid perfusion technique which is different from the established one of arterial supercharging or venous superdrainage to improve multiterritory flap survival with success. In order to ensure the entire flap survival of multiterritory flaps extending to choke zone III, a "hybrid perfusion" mode by anastomosing a distal vein of the flap with a recipient artery was carried out in two cases based on our previous basic study. In addition, a systematic literature review regarding the established microsurgical assistant techniques of arterial supercharging and venous superdrainage techniques were performed. Both flaps survived uneventfully. At a minimal follow-up of six months, both patients were satisfied with the results. This novel hybrid perfusion technique provides a simple new concept in solving partial necrosis of multiterritory flaps. Further practice is guaranteed for better understanding this unconventional attempt.

Metformin relieves neuropathic pain after spinal nerve ligation via autophagy flux stimulation.

Neuropathic pain is a well-known type of chronic pain caused by damage to the nervous system. Autophagy is involved in the development and/or progression of many diseases, including neuropathic pain. Emerging evidence suggests that metformin relieves neuropathic pain in several neuropathic pain models; however, metformin's cellular and molecular mechanism for pain relief remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of metformin on pain relief after spinal nerve ligation (SNL) and its underlying mechanism of autophagy regulation. Behavioural analysis, histological assessment, expression of c-Fos and molecular biological changes, as well as ultrastructural features, were investigated. Our findings showed that the number of autophagosomes and expression of autophagy markers, such as LC3 and beclin1, were increased, while the autophagy substrate protein p62, as well as the ubiquitinated proteins, were accumulated in the ipsilateral spinal cord. However, metformin enhanced the expression of autophagy markers, while it abrogated the abundance of p62 and ubiquitinated proteins. Blockage of autophagy flux by chloroquine partially abolished the apoptosis inhibition and analgesic effects of metformin on SNL. Taken together, these results illustrated that metformin relieved neuropathic pain through autophagy flux stimulation and provided a new direction for metformin drug development to treat neuropathic pain.

Risk Factors Associated With Postoperative Recurrence in Patients With Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor of the Hand: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Identification of risk factors for recurrence of tenosynovial giant cell tumors of the hand is crucial to provide adequate preoperative counseling and tailor surgical treatment. However, the risk factors are still controversial, which are the subject of this research.Recently, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 135 consecutive patients with giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath of the hand from January 2010 to July 2016. All patients underwent surgical excision, received necessary imaging examinations, and had routine follow-up and thus were identified as those who had recurrence by confirmation of reoperation, and the duration ranged from 24 to 103 months (mean, 53.5 ± 21.4 months). There were 14 local recurrences (10.4%) within 6 to 24 months, respectively, after surgery. Data pertaining to sex, age, tumor sites, tumor size, tumor number, course of disease, bone erosion, tumor growth patterns, anesthesia mode, and the surgeon's experience were all extracted, and Cox regression models were used to estimate recurrence rate with adjustment for potential confounders.According to the Cox regression analysis, the recurrence rate after surgery was significantly higher in patients with a diffused form than in those with a localized one (P = 0.001); in addition, patients with 2 or more tumors had a much higher postoperative recurrence rate than did those with only 1 tumor (P = 0.023).This study suggested that the recurrence rate of tenosynovial giant cell tumors of the hand was closely related to the tumor number and tumor growth patterns.

A Comparative Study of Finger Pulp Reconstruction Using Free Distal Ulnar Artery Perforator Flaps and Reverse Dorsal Homodigital Island Flaps.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare and analyze the outcomes of finger reconstruction using free distal ulnar artery perforator (FDUAP) and reverse dorsal homodigital island (RDHI) flaps. METHODS: The study included 27 patients with finger pulp defects that were reconstructed using FDUAP or RDHI flaps. Standardized assessment of outcomes included objective sensory recovery, duration of operation, range of motion in the repaired fingers, pain at the reconstructed finger pulps and donor sites, and recovery time before returning to work. Subjective assessment of outcomes included the cold intolerance, aesthetic appearance, and functional recovery. RESULTS: All flaps in the series showed complete survival. The average surgical time for the RDHI flaps was significantly smaller than that for the FDUAP flaps. Sensory recovery was significantly better with FDUAP flaps than with RAHI flaps. No significant differences were detected between the 2 procedures regarding range of motion, cold intolerance, or pain of the injured finger pulps and donor sites. The outcomes of aesthetic result and functional recovery satisfied all patients. Optimal cosmetic satisfaction was obtained in the FDUAP flap group. CONCLUSIONS: Although both types of flaps offer a satisfactory approach for finger reconstruction with small-to-medium defects, FDUAP flaps are more suitable for such operations because of the better sensory reconstruction and aesthetic results.

Treatment of Intraosseous Ganglion Cyst of the Lunate: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: Intraosseous ganglion cyst (IGC) is a rare disease, particularly in lunate. The objective of this study was to summarize current knowledge on the treatment of IGC of the lunate, through a literature review, to provide a therapeutic strategy for this rare disease. METHODS: The PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Science Direct database were searched with a set of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Manual searches for references were performed to find potential relevant studies. The authors extracted data from the articles selected. RESULTS: Different treatment modalities of IGC of the lunate were described, all of which were divided into 3 categories: conservative treatment, classical surgical procedures, and novel surgical procedures. An overview on the main treatment modalities for IGC of the lunate was provided. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative treatments can be the doctors' first choice for patients with IGC. Surgical procedure is advised when conservative treatment fails. Traditional surgical curettage with autologous bone grafting is the mainstay of treatment with satisfactory outcomes; however, novel surgical techniques like arthroscopically assisted minimally invasive technique or filling with bone cement are considered as more promising attempts with less trauma and shorter recovery period. Nonetheless, studies with high levels of evidence are guaranteed for developing widely accepted clinical treatment guidelines.

Individual Treatment of Delayed Distal Biceps Tendon Rupture: Case Report and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Complicated elbow injuries (elbow injuries with bone and soft tissue injury) with distal biceps tendon ruptures (DBTRs) are not uncommon. There are several treatment modalities in different situations of injuries. In this article, we reported 3 successful individual treatments of delayed DBTR with complicated elbow injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three cases of complicated elbow injuries treated between 2010 and 2016 were reviewed. The delayed DBTR cases were summarized and treated. Mayo Elbow Performance Score value, range of motion, and visual analog scale score were used to assess outcomes after a minimum follow-up of 12 months. RESULTS: All 3 patients were male, aged 47 to 54 years (mean, 49.6 years). Patients received surgical treatments. After a mean follow-up of 13.7 months, in cases 1 and 2, Mayo Elbow Performance Score values improved by 50% and 100%, elbow flexion-extension arc were 115 degrees and 110 degrees, pronation-supination arc were 130 degrees and 120 degrees. Arthrodesis case reported pain relief; visual analog scale score for pain was 0 to 1. No postoperative complications were observed, and all patients were satisfied with the results. CONCLUSIONS: Individual treatment is advised in DBTR with complicated elbow injuries. Secondary treatment of DBTR can achieve satisfactory results using individual strategies depending on patients' overall condition.

Effect of a nondominant perforator on multiterritory perforator flap survival in rats.

BACKGROUND: During flap surgery, the dominant perforator is usually selected as the pedicle. This study investigated the effect of a nondominant perforator on multiterritory perforator flap survival. METHODS: The deep circumflex iliac artery perforator flap (DCIA flap) and intercostal artery perforator flap (ICA flap) were performed (n = 12). Only the pedicle was different between the two flaps. The DCIA flap was based on the right and peripheral DCIA with three dynamic and two potential perforasomes. The ICA flap was based on the right and central ICA with five dynamic perforasomes. All adjacent perforators were ligated except the pedicle. On postoperative day 7, flap viability, angiography findings, and perfusion were compared. RESULTS: Even though the diameter of DCIA (mm) was larger than that of ICA (0.49 ± 0.03 vs. 0.4 ± 0.04; p < .05), the ICA flap survival rate (%) was higher than that of DCIA flap (99.5 ± 0.7 vs. 83.8 ± 3.9; p < .001). Based on a dominant perforator, a necrotic area was observed in the potential perforasomes of the DCIA flap. The choke vessels between the anatomical and dynamic perforasomes dilated postoperatively in the two flaps, whereas the others did not. The perfusion (PU) differences between the DCIA and ICA flaps in the dynamic perforasomes were nonsignificant (average, 342.4 ± 9.1 vs. 347.3 ± 7.3; p > .05). CONCLUSION: Increasing the number of dynamic perforasomes had no effect on flap survival, even based on a nondominant perforator. And the pedicle position affected flap survival.

The management of degloving injuries of the limb with full thickness skin grafting using vacuum sealing drainage or traditional compression dressing: A comparative cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Degloving injuries of the limb are severe and frequently underrated. Few researches are available comparing the results of reattachment of the degloved skin grafts with the vacuum sealing drainage technique and the traditional compression dressing method. In this study, we aimed to compare the treatment outcomes of these two approaches. METHODS: Eighty-three consecutive patients were treated for degloving injury of the limb. Based on the treatment approach, the patients were divided into vacuum sealing drainage group (VSD group, n = 55) and traditional compression dressing group (TCD group, n = 28). After reattachment, the degloved skin was secured with stitches and compressed with VSD or TCD. The outcomes were mainly assessed based on the percentage of skin graft take. RESULT: In VSD group, there were excellent results in 18, fair in 9 and poor in 28, respectively; In TCD group, there were excellent results in 11, fair in 10 and poor in 7, respectively. Statistically, no significant difference was found between two groups in terms of the category of excellent results. However, significant higher incidence of poor results with necrotic areas exceeding 50% was observed in the VSD group than that in the TCD group. In addition, although the duration of hospitalization in the VSD group was shorter than that in the TCD group, the medical supply costs and total costs were much higher than that of the TCD group. CONCLUSION: VSD and TCD are equally effective in the management of degloving injuries of the limb; however, VSD technique may potentially have a higher risk of poor results with increased hospital charges. The traditional approach still has its merits in clinical practice, especially in rural hospitals when VSD is not available or unaffordable.

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the elbow with open or arthroscopic debridement: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Elbow osteoarthritis (OA) is a common disabling condition because of pain and loss of motion. Open and arthroscopic debridement are the preferred treatment, however there is no consensus on which treatment modality is suited to which category of patient or stage of disease. The objective of this study was to narratively review the literature for a more comprehensive understanding of its treatment options and associated outcomes, trying to provide a better treatment plan. METHODS: The PubMed database, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched, using the keywords (elbow [title/abstract] and osteoarthritis [title/abstract] and (surgery or open or arthroscop* or debridement or ulnohumeral arthroplasty) including all possible studies with a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: A total of 229 studies were identified. Twenty-one articles published between 1994 and 2016 satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria including 651 elbows in 639 patients. After comparison, mean postoperative improvement in (ROM) was 28.6° and 23.3°,Mayo elbow performance score/index(MEPS/MEPI) 31 and 26.8 and the total complication rate was 37(11.5%), and 18(5.5%) for open and arthroscopic procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This narrative review could not provide an insight on which surgical procedure is superior to the other due to the poor orthopedics literature. However, from the data we obtained the open and arthroscopic debridement procedures seem to be safe and effective in the treatment of elbow OA. The optimal surgical intervention for the treatment of symptomatic elbow OA should be determined depending on patients' conditions.

Bilateral Locking of the Metacarpophalangeal Joint: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this article were to present an exemplary case of bilateral locked metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the second metacarpal and to review the literature for a more comprehensive understanding of this condition. METHODS: For the literature review, PubMed and Google Scholar research were performed using the term "metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP joint) locking or locked metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP Joint)" with a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: We recently treated a patient with bilateral locked MCP, which presented to our office on 2 separate occasions in the space of 3 years. The left hand was affected in 2015 and the right hand in 2018. After clinical and imaging investigations, the patient was operated on. The patient had a locking of the accessory collateral ligament behind a radial sided prominence of the second metacarpal head. After surgery, the patient regained full function of her index finger. On the basis of our literature review, we found 47 cases described in the literature, plus our case, the index finger (22), and the long finger (11) were most commonly involved. CONCLUSION: Left untreated, the locked MCP joint may lead to a flexion contracture and disabilities in performing daily life activities. The diagnosis is mainly clinical. The radiographs can show degenerative changes or a particular shape of the metacarpal head/neck as a first clue to the possible cause. Gentle closed reduction can be attempted, but surgery is most often required. The surgical approach depends on the presumed localization of the pathology.

Reconstruction of medial collateral ligament defects with a flexor-pronator fascia patch in complete open release of stiff elbows.

BACKGROUND: Because medial elbow stability is essential for stiff elbow release, surgical techniques have been reported for reconstructing medial elbow stability. However, medial collateral ligament (MCL) defects, caused by inevitable detachment and resection performed for complete release, make the reconstruction more challenging. To our knowledge, no study has evaluated the outcomes after using a flexor-pronator fascia patch in medial elbow reconstruction for open release of stiff elbows. We hypothesized that this technique is effective for repairing MCL defects. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 10 patients. The MCL defects were all reconstructed with a flexor-pronator fascia patch. An external fixator was used in all patients. One patient could not be contacted and was thus excluded from the study. Outcome measures included stability, range of motion, Mayo Elbow Performance Score, ulnar nerve symptoms, power grip, and radiographic findings. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 19.6 months; all elbows were stable by the last follow-up. One patient presented with moderate elbow instability and then regained stability 3 months after the external fixator was removed. The Mayo Elbow Performance Score improved from 58 points to 94 points, and the mean flexion arc improved from 40° to 133°. No radiographic manifestations of elbow dislocation or suture anchor looseness were observed. CONCLUSION: A flexor-pronator fascia patch provides sufficient stability for repairing MCL defects without restricting the range of motion gained during arthrolysis.

Chronic Posttraumatic Dislocation of Radial Head With Ulnar Nerve Entrapment in a Child: A Case Report and Literature Review.

We present an unusual case of chronic posttraumatic anteromedial dislocation of radial head with direct ulnar nerve entrapment in a child. Ulnar nerve decompression, open reduction of the radial head, and annular ligament reconstruction using a palmaris longus tendon graft were performed, and a satisfactory functional outcome was achieved at the 15-month follow-up. Through a review of literature, we conclude that early diagnosis and management for radial head dislocation are recommended to avoid nerve symptoms. Besides, open reduction and annular ligament reconstruction with a palmaris longus tendon graft would be an alternative surgery during chronic phase.

Safety and Efficacy of Operative Versus Nonsurgical Management of Distal Radius Fractures in Elderly Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and efficacy of operative versus nonsurgical treatment of distal radius fractures in elderly patients. METHODS: We comprehensively searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for studies that satisfied predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Outcomes of interest included pain level, grip strength, wrist range of motion, wrist functional assessment, radiographic parameters, and complications; we compared these using continuous measurements. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess operative versus nonsurgical procedures in patients aged 60 years and older. RESULTS: Two randomized controlled trials and 6 retrospective studies were included. Meta-analysis did not detect statistically significant differences in pooled data for pain level, functional assessment, and wrist range of motion between the operative and nonsurgical groups. Grip strength was significantly greater in the operative group. The incidence of major complications requiring surgery and that of tendon injury were significantly higher in the operative group. Radiographic outcomes including volar tilt, radial inclination, and ulnar variance were significantly better in the operative group. Considerable heterogeneity was present in all studies and adversely affected the precision of the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The current literature does not support the theory that operative management can provide better clinical outcomes for elderly patients with distal radius fractures. Although operative management can offer better radiographic outcomes and grip strength than can nonsurgical treatment, the risk of complications requiring surgical treatment is greater. Thus, indications for operative fixation should be considered carefully in the treatment of elderly patients. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic III.