Is it Cost-effective With Volar Plating Surgery Compared to Non-operative Treatment for Distal Radius Fracture in the Elderly?

Study design: A cost-utility analysis of a patient population included in a previous published randomized controlled trial.

Patient population:140 patients 70 years of age or older with a displaced distal radius fracture that met the inclusion and no exclusion criteria at Danderyd Hospital or Södersjukhuset Hospital were randomized to volar locking plate or non-operative treatment with a cast.

Primary outcome: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) at 1 and 3 years.

Data collection: Prospectively collected clinical data is available for 4, 12, weeks, 1 and 3 years. Costs will be analysed regarding surgical equipment, inpatient stay, surgical time. Prescriptions of analgesics and antibiotics as well as inpatient and outpatient consumption over a three years period after the injury will be retrieved from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare.The life expectancy adjusted life years (QALYs) is calculated from prospectively collected results from EQ-5D.