Table II.

Study inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Inclusion criteria Aged ≥ 65 years Dorsally angulated fracture of the distal radius The treating surgeon believes the patient is suitable for surgical fixation Operation date within three weeks of fracture Closed or Gustilo-Anderson grade I injury

Exclusion criteria Patients unable to give informed consent Patients medically unfit to undergo surgery Volar displaced fractures Partial articular and isolated radial styloid fractures Associated fractures to the upper limb and/or pre-existing pathology adversely affecting function Associated ligamentous injury, dislocation, or subluxation of the wrist Open fractures of Gustilo-Anderson grade II or higher Persisting neurovascular deficit requiring operative intervention Off-ended/severely displaced fractures post attempted reduction that are deemed to required surgery by the treating surgeon Patients who are non-resident locally and will be unable to attend for local follow-up Patients unable to comply with follow-up, including English-language patient-reported outcome measures, either on the telephone or by post