BACKGROUND. High-volume surgeons and hospital systems have been shown to deliver higher value care in several studies. However, no evidence-based volume thresholds for cost currently exist in total hip arthroplasty (THA). The objective of this study was to establish clinically meaningful volume thresholds based on cost for surgeons and hospitals performing THA. A secondary objective was to analyze the relative market share of THAs among the newly defined surgeon and hospital volume strata. METHODS. Using 136,501 patients from the New York State Department of Health's SPARCS database undergoing total hip arthroplasty, we used stratum-specific likelihood ratio (SSLR) analysis of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to generate volume thresholds predictive of increased costs for both surgeons and hospitals. Additionally, we examined the relative proportion of annual THA cases performed by each of these surgeon and hospital volume strata we had established. RESULTS. SSLR analysis of cost by annual surgeon THA volume produced stratifications at: 0–73 (low), 74–123 (medium), and 124 or more (high) (Figure 1). Analysis by annual hospital THA volume produced stratifications at: 0–121 (low), 122–309 (medium), and 310 or more (high) (Figure 2). Hospital costs decreased significantly (P < .05) in progressively higher volume stratifications. The largest proportion of THA cases are performed at high-volume hospitals (48.6%); however, low-volume surgeons perform the greatest share of these cases (44.6%) (Figure 3). CONCLUSIONS. Our study establishes economies of scale in total hip arthroplasty by demonstrating a direct relationship between volume and cost reduction. High volume hospitals are performing the greatest proportion of total hip arthroplasties; however, low volume, surgeons perform the largest share of these cases, which highlights a potential area for enhanced value in the care of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty

Background. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the independent contributions of surgeon procedure volume, hospital procedure volume, and standardisation of care on short-term post-operative outcomes and resource utilisation in lower-extremity total joint arthroplasty. Methods. An analysis of 182,146 consecutive patients who underwent primary total joint arthroplasty was performed with use of data entered into the Perspective database by 3421 physicians from 312 hospitals over a two-year period. Adherence to evidence-based processes of care was defined by administration of appropriate perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, beta blockade, and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. Patient outcomes included mortality, length of hospital stay, discharge disposition, surgical complications, readmissions, and reoperations within the first 30 days after discharge. Hierarchical models were used to estimate effects of hospital and surgeon procedure volume and standardisation on individual and combined surgical outcomes and length of stay. Results. After adjustment in multivariate models, higher surgeon volume was associated with lower risk of complications, lower rates of readmission and reoperation, shorter length of stay, and higher likelihood of being discharged home. Higher hospital volume was associated with lower risk of mortality and lower risk of readmission and higher likelihood of being discharged home. The impact of process standardisation was substantial; maximising adherence to evidence-based processes of care resulted in improved clinical outcomes and shorter length of hospital stay, independent of hospital or surgeon procedure volume. Conclusion. Although surgeon and hospital procedure volumes are unquestionably correlated with patient outcomes in total joint arthroplasty, process standardisation is also strongly associated with improved quality and efficiency of care. The exact relationship between individual processes of care and patient outcomes has not been established. However, our findings suggest that process standardisation could help providers optimise quality and efficiency in total joint arthroplasty, independent of hospital or surgeon volume

With the recent reductions in junior doctor hours levels of staffing have become ever more critical as clinical duties are covered with fewer junior doctors available on a daily basis. Trainees also have to meet specific requirements of the curriculum and thus need to be allocated to posts with suitable opportunities. There is little evidence available to account for the allocation of posts to individual trusts and departments with training post numbers seem driven by historical allocation, rather than based on trainee and local population needs.

‘SHO’ tier numbers were obtained for each orthopaedic department within the Yorkshire deanery through direct contact with the departments. Data was also obtained to establish the workload of these departments. Information was gathered from the national neck of femur database, hospital episode statistics, the national joint registry, the trauma audit and research network (TARN) and finally Dr Foster and the national census. The workload data was then analysed and compared to the staffing levels in each department.

Data was obtained for fourteen trusts across the Yorkshire Deanery. The percentage of SHO tier doctors in training posts ranged from 0 to 78% (mean 37%) across the trusts surveyed, with wide variation in make up of the SHO tier in each department.

Workload was standardised using the unit of cases/SHO/annum. The workload for neck of femur fractures ranged from 8 to 52 cases/SHO/annum (mean 36). General trauma admissions ranged from 199 to 383 cases/SHO/annum (mean 288). Elective arthroplasty admissions ranged from 11 to 174 (mean 70). Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.5 for elective arthroplasty and neck of femur admissions and 0.8 for trauma admissions.

There is wide variation in workload between trusts when standardised for the number of SHO's with weak to moderate correlations between the number of juniors and workload in each department. This wide variation will impact on patient care, but also the training opportunities available in different posts – where workload is higher it is likely there will be an increased need for ward based work away from clinics and theatre lists.

The introduction of the foundation programme and MMC has changed the structure of the SHO grade at a time when the EWTD introduction has also had a profound impact on working patterns and hours. At this time we believe there is a need for a review of trainee allocations nationally with comparison to workload in each trust, trainee logbook data and data on curriculum competencies met. With the proposed reductions in trainee numbers now is the time for a centrally led review of these posts via the Royal College, BOA and BOTA to ensure high quality training, maintain high standards of patient care and secure the future of the orthopaedic profession.

Aim

Persistent wound drainage has been recognized as one of the major risk factors of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Currently, there is no consensus on the management protocol for patients who develop wound drainage after total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The objective of our study was to describe a multimodal protocol for managing draining wounds after TJA and assess the outcomes.

Papers to be discussed during this session include: Surgical approach and THA results - does it matter?; Minimizing infection in TJA - doing all you can….; I&D or Revision, 1 vs. 2 stage for infected TKA - now or later?; Barbed sutures - friend or foe?; Constraint in TKA - promises and pitfalls!; Tendonitis after THA - minimizing the pain; MRI after THA - when and why…….; Pain, opioids, and outcomes - sorting fact from fictions!; Outpatient TKA - home free?; TKA in general - does home matter?; Drainage after TKA - mopping up the mess!; Head size in THA - does it matter, help or hurt?; Hip bone connected to the spine bone - so what!; Tourniquet in TKA - does it make a difference?; Standardise or personalise? - that is the question!; Trusting the robot - really?; The TKA - rotation, rotation, rotation.

Nutritional Status and Short-Term Outcomes Following THA; Initial Metal Ion Levels Predict Risk in MoM THA; THA Bearing Surface Trends in the US ‘07- ’14; Dislocation Following Two-Stage Revision THA; Timing of Primary THA Prior to or After Lumbar Spine Fusion; Failure Rate of Failed Constrained Liner Revision; ESR and CRP vs. Reinfection Risk in Two-Stage Revision?; Mechanical Complications of THA Based on Approach; Impaction Force and Taper-Trunnion Stability in THA; TKA in Patients Less Than 50 Years of Age; Post-operative Mechanical Axis and 20-year TKA Survival and Function; Return to Moderate to High-intensity Sports after UKA; “Running Two Rooms” and Patient Safety in TJA; Varus and Implant Migration and Contact Kinematics after TKA; Quadriceps Snips in 321 Revision TKAs; Tubercle Proximalization for Patella Infera in Revision TKA; Anterior Condylar Height and Flexion in TKA; Compression Bandage Following Primary TKA; Unsupervised Exercise vs. Traditional PT After Primary TKA and UKA.

With the increasing use of 3D medical imaging, it is possible to analyze 3D patient anatomy to extract features, trends and population specific shape information. This is applied to the development of ‘standard implants’ targeted to specific population groups.

THA: Approaches and Recovery; THA: Instability and Spinal Deformity; Revision for THA Instability: Dual Mobility Cups; Removal of Infected THA: Risk Factors for Complications; Tribocorrosion: Incidence in the Symptomatic THA; THA: Outcomes and Education Levels; THA: Satisfaction levels and Residual Symptoms; THA: Expectations and LOS; TKA: Kneeling and Recreation Expectations; TKA: Alignment and Long Term Survival; Patello-Femoral Arthroplasty vs TKA; Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty and Age; Wound Treatments and Sepsis in TJA; TKA: Managing Sepsis With I & D; Chronic Salvage in TKA: When is Enough Enough?; Revision TKA: Single Component Revision

Effectiveness of Liposomal Bupivacaine for Post-Operative Pain Control in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective, Randomised, Double Blind, Controlled Study

Pericapsular Injection with Free Ropivacaine Provides Equivalent Post-Operative Analgesia as Liposomal Bupivacaine following Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

Total Knee Arthroplasty in the 21st Century: Why Do They Fail? A Fifteen-Year Analysis of 11,135 Knees

Cryoneurolysis for Temporary Relief of Pain in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Multi-Center, Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomised, Controlled Trial

Pre-Operative Freezing of Sensory Nerves for Post-TKA Pain: Preliminary Results from a Prospective, Randomised, Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Proximalization of the Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy: A Solution for Patella Infera during Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

Treatment of Periprosthetic Joint Infection Based on Species of Infecting Organism: A Decision Analysis

Alpha-Defensin Test for Diagnosis of PJI in the Setting of Failed Metal-on-Metal Bearings or Corrosion

Risk of Reinfection after Irrigation and Debridement for Treatment of Acute Periprosthetic Joint Infection following TKA

Serum Metal Levels for the Diagnosis of Adverse Local Tissue Reaction Secondary to Corrosion in Metal-on-Polyethylene Bearing Total Hip Arthroplasty

Intra-Articular Injection for Painful Hip OA - A Randomised, Double-Blinded Study

Six-Year Follow-up of Hip Decompression with Concentrated Bone Marrow Aspirate to Treat Femoral Head Osteonecrosis

No Benefit of Computer-Assisted TKA: 10-Year Results of a Prospective Randomised Study

The following papers will be discussed during this session: 1) Staph Screening and Treatment Prior to Elective TJA; 2) Unfulfilled Expectations Following TJA Procedures; 3) Thigh Pain in Short Stem Cementless Components in THR; 4) Is the Direct Anterior Approach a Risk Factor for Early Failure?; 5) THA Infection - Results of a 2nd 2-Stage Re-implantation - Clinical Trial of Articulating and Static Spacers; 6) THA Revision - Modular vs. Non Modular Fluted Tapered Stems-Total Femoral Replacement for Femoral Bone Loss - Cage + TM Augment vs. Cup Cage for Acetabular Bone Loss; 7) Do Injections Increase the Risk of Infection Prior to TKA?; 8) Long-Acting Opioid Use Predicts Perioperative Complication in TJA; 9) UKA vs. HTO in Patients Under 55 at 5–7 years; 10) Stemming Tibial Component in TKA Patients with a BMI > 30; 11) The Effect of Bariatric Surgery Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty; 12) Oral Antibiotics and Reinfection Following Two-Stage Exchange; 13) Two-Stage Debridement with Prosthetic Retention for Acute TKA Infections; 14) Patient-Reported Outcomes Predict Meaningful Improvement after TKA; 15) Contemporary Rotating Hinge TKA; 16) Liposomal Bupivacaine in TKA; and 17) Noise Generation in Modern TKA: Incidence and Significance.

Metal Ion Levels Not Useful in Failed M-O-M Hips: Systematic Review; Revision of Failed M-O-M THA at a Tertiary Center; Trunnionosis in Metal-on-Poly THA?; Do Ceramic Heads Eliminate Trunnionosis?; Iliopsoas Impingement After 10 THA; Pain in Young, Active Patients Following THA; Pre-operative Injections Increase Peri-prosthetic THA Infection; Debridement and Implant Retention in THA Infection; THA after Prior Lumbar Spinal Fusion; Lumbar Back Surgery Prior to THA Associated with Worse Outcomes; Raising the Joint Line Causes Mid-Flexion Instability in TKA; No Improvement in Outcomes with Kinematic Alignment in TKA; Botox For TKA Flexion Contracture; Intra-operative Synovitis Predicts Worse Outcomes After TKA for OA; When is it Safe for Patients to Drive After Right TKA?; Alpha-Defensin for Peri-prosthetic Joint Infection; Medial Tibia Overhang and Pain Score After TKA

Laxity Differences in CR & PS TKA -Achieving Total Knee Balancing Using Bone Cut Adjustments and Correlation with Varus-Valgus Lift-Off

The Incidence and Mid Term Functional Effect of Partial PCL Recession in Fixed and Mobile Bearing PCL Retaining TKA

Clinical and Radiographic Results of a Modern Design, Onlay Patellofemoral Arthroplasty at a Minimum Two-Year Follow-Up

Custom Cutting Guides Do Not Improve Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes at 2 Years Follow-up

Tourniquet Use During TKA -Effect on Recovery of Strength and Function: a randomised, double-blind, control trial

Prospective, Randomised Trial of Standard vs Cross-linked Tibial Poly

Crosslink vs. Conventional TKA Poly Retrieval Analysis

Unplanned Readmissions after TKA Using a Statewide Database

Does Prior Cartilage Restoration Negatively Impact Outcomes of TKA

Periprosthetic Femur Fracture: Better to Revise than to Fix

Increased Non-stemmed Tibial Failures in Patients with a BMI ≥ 35

The Effect Of Canal Fit And Fill in Revision THA With Modular, Fluted, Tapered Stems

The Wagner Cone Stem For The Challenging Femur In Primary Total

Will Metal Heads Restore Integrity of Corroded Trunnions at Revision THR?

Influence of Head Size, Materials and Taper Design on Fretting and Corrosion of Metal on Polyethylene THR

Delta Ceramic on Ceramic THA – Midterm IDE Study Results

Refining Acetabular Safe Zone for Posterior Approach in THA

Comparison of a Pain Program for THA with and without Liposome Bupivacaine

The NW Advancing Quality programme is a regional one aimed at improving the delivery of evidence based care. Hip and knee replacement has been one of 5 clinical areas. Over a 3 year period performance at all 24 NW trusts has been measured. For hip and knee replacement patients the evidence based care has been delivery of antibiotic and thromboembolic prophylaxis. Robust data has been collected on the choice and timeliness of prophylaxis and readmission rates for each trust. The programme included financial and reputational (public reporting) rewards for top performing units. Sharing of data and collaborative working has been put in place to improve overall performance

Over the 3 years of the programme data has been collected on 47,825 patients. Across the region delivery of the measures has improved from 88 to 96%. Patients achieving all measures and avoiding readmission has improved from 64 to 85%. There has been reduced variation in performance. The biggest improvement in performance has occurred in the initially poorer perfoming trusts (year 1 range 54–97%, year 3 range 86–99%). All cause readmission within 28 days of discharge has fallen from 9 to 7%.

The progamme has demonstrated that it is possible to improve delivery of evidence based care and clinical outcomes on a regional basis. It has evolved from a stand alone programme to continue as a regional CQUIN. The programme has had wider benefits. Units report a change of culture producing improved delivery of other protocols. The collaboraive working has created a multidisciplinary network with improvement initiatives widened to include comparing PROMS data, Enhanced Recovery and Shared Decision Making. Challenges have included obtaining consensus regarding the initial and now soon to be introduced updated thromboembolic measures

Direct Anterior vs Mini-posterior THA with Advanced Pain & Rehab Protocols

Intra-articular Injection Within a Year of THA Predicts Early Revision

Specific Screening of MoM Hip Patients Significantly Increases Revision Surgery

Taper Analysis Supports Retention of Well-fixed Stem in Revision of MoM THA

Variables Influencing Corrosion of Modular Junctions in Metal-on-Poly THR

Lysis and Wear of Large and Standard Metal on Highly Crosslinked Poly

A Decade of Highly Crosslinked Poly in THA: A Review of 1,484 Cases

Wear of Highly Crosslinked Poly with 36mm Heads – 5 Yr Follow Up

Fixation and Wear of Contemporary Acetabulum and Crosslinked Poly at 10 Years

Prospective, Randomised Study of 2 Skin Preps in Reducing SSI after TJA

Diagnostic Threshold for Synovial Fluid Analysis in Late Peri-prosthetic Infection, Diabetes, Hyperglycemia, Hemoglobin A1c and the Risk of Joint Infections

Infection Risk Stratification in THA and TKA

Risk Factors for Infection After THA: Preventable vs Non-preventable

Do Space Suits Increase Contamination and Deep Infection in TJA

Improving Detection of PJI in THA Through Multiple Sonicate Fluid Cultures

Sonication for the Enhanced Diagnosis of Prosthetic Joint Infection

Aspiration During 2-Stage Knee Revision Inadequate for Infection Detection

Revision Rates and Outcomes Related to Duration of TKA Surgery

Does Operative Time Affect Infection Rate Following Primary TKA?

Liposomal Bupivacaine: The First 1,000 Cases in a New Era

Cement Depth and Stem Stability in Revision TKA with Hybrid Fixation

The presentations to be discussed by the panel are: 1.) No Increased Risk of Knee Arthroplasty Failure in Metal Hypersensitive Patients: A Matched Cohort Study; 2.) Knee Arthrodesis is Most Likely to Control Infection and Preserve Function Following Failed 2 Stage Procedure for Treatment of Infected TKA: A Decision Tree Analysis; 3.) Does Malnutrition Correlate with Septic Failure of Hip and Knee Arthroplasties?; 4.) Diagnosing Periprosthetic Joint Infection: The Era of the Biomarker Has Arrived; 5.) Are Patient Reported Allergies a Risk Factor for Poor Outcomes in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty?; 6.) Revising an HTO or UKA to TKA: Is it more like a Primary TKA or a Revision TKA?; 7.) At 5 Years Highly-Porous-Metal Tibial Components Were Durable and Reliable: A Randomised Clinical Trial of 389 Patients; 8.) Current Data Does Not Support Routine Use of Patient-Specific Instrumentation in Total Knee Arthroplasty; 9.) Barbed vs. Standard Sutures for Closure in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Multicenter Prospective Randomised Trial; 10.) Particles from Vitamin-E-diffused HXL UHMWPE Induce Less Osteolysis Compared to Virgin HXL UHMWPE in a Murine Calvarial Bone Model; 11.) Construct Rigidity: Keystone for Reconstructing Pelvic Discontinuity; 12.) Do You Have to Remove a Corroded Femoral Stem?; 13.) Direct Anterior Versus Mini-Posterior Total Hip Arthroplasty with the Same Advanced Pain Management and Rapid Rehabilitation Protocol: Some Surprises in Early Outcome; 14.) Adverse Clinical Outcomes in a Primary Modular Neck/Stem System.

Aims. The principles of evidence-based medicine (EBM) are the foundation of modern medical practice. Surgeons are familiar with the commonly used statistical techniques to test hypotheses, summarize findings, and provide answers within a specified range of probability. Based on this knowledge, they are able to critically evaluate research before deciding whether or not to adopt the findings into practice. Recently, there has been an increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze information and derive findings in orthopaedic research. These techniques use a set of statistical tools that are increasingly complex and may be unfamiliar to the orthopaedic surgeon. It is unclear if this shift towards less familiar techniques is widely accepted in the orthopaedic community. This study aimed to provide an exploration of understanding and acceptance of AI use in research among orthopaedic surgeons. Methods. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out on a sample of 12 orthopaedic surgeons. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Results. The four intersecting themes identified were: 1) validity in traditional research, 2) confusion around the definition of AI, 3) an inability to validate AI research, and 4) cautious optimism about AI research. Underpinning these themes is the notion of a validity heuristic that is strongly rooted in traditional research teaching and embedded in medical and surgical training. Conclusion. Research involving AI sometimes challenges the accepted traditional evidence-based framework. This can give rise to confusion among orthopaedic surgeons, who may be unable to confidently validate findings. In our study, the impact of this was mediated by cautious optimism based on an ingrained validity heuristic that orthopaedic surgeons develop through their medical training. Adding to this, the integration of AI into everyday life works to reduce suspicion and aid acceptance. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2023;4(9):696–703

In 2007, the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) was conceived in the United Kingdom (UK) as a national audit aiming to improve hip fracture care across the country. It now represents the world's largest hip fracture registry. The purpose of the NHFD is to evaluate aspects of best practice for hip fracture care, at an institutional level, that reflect the evidence-based clinical guidelines and quality standards developed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. No national program currently exists, equivalent to the NHFD, in Canada despite evidence suggesting that national audit programs can significantly improve patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate aspects of best practice for hip fractures at our Canadian academic tertiary referral center using the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and benchmarks used by the NHFD. In doing so, we aimed to compare our performance to other hospitals contributing to the NHFD database. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on consecutive patients who presented to our Canadian center for surgical management of a hip fracture between August 2019 to September 2020. Fracture types included intertrochanteric, subtrochanteric, and femoral neck fractures treated with either surgical fixation or arthroplasty. Cases were identified from the affiliate institute's Operatively Repaired Fractures Database (ORFD). The ORFD prospectively collects patient-level data extracted from electronic medical records, operating room information systems, and from patients’ discharge summaries. All applicable data from our database were compared to the established KPI and benchmarks published by the NHFD that apply to the Canadian healthcare system. Six hundred and seven patients’ data (64.5% female) were extracted from the ORFD, mean age 80.4 ± 13.3 years. The NHFD contains data from 63,284 patients across the entire UK. The affiliate institute performed inferiorly compared to the NHFD for two KPIs: prompt surgery (surgery by the day following presentation with hip fracture, 52.8% vs. 69%) and prompt mobilization after surgery (mobilized out of bed by the day after operation, 43.0% vs. 81.0%). However, more patients at the affiliate institute were not delirious when tested postoperatively (89.6% vs. 68.4%). There was no significant difference in the average length of stay (12.23 days versus 13.5 days) or in 30-day mortality rate (8.4% versus 8.3%). More than half of all KPI's and benchmarks for patients receiving a hip fracture surgery at our tertiary referral center in Canada ranked significantly lower than patients receiving a hip fracture surgery in the UK. These findings indicate that perhaps a national audit program should be implemented in Canada to improve aspects of hip fracture care, at an institutional level. Following evidence-based clinical guidelines and using standardized benchmarks would encourage change and foster improvement across Canadian centres when necessary

Despite the vast quantities of published artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that target trauma and orthopaedic applications, very few progress to inform clinical practice. One key reason for this is the lack of a clear pathway from development to deployment. In order to assist with this process, we have developed the Clinical Practice Integration of Artificial Intelligence (CPI-AI) framework – a five-stage approach to the clinical practice adoption of AI in the setting of trauma and orthopaedics, based on the IDEAL principles (. https://www.ideal-collaboration.net/. ). Adherence to the framework would provide a robust evidence-based mechanism for developing trust in AI applications, where the underlying algorithms are unlikely to be fully understood by clinical teams. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(9):507–512

The Australia and New Zealand Sarcoma Association established the Sarcoma Guidelines Working Party to develop national guidelines for the management of Sarcoma. We asked whether surgery at a specialised centre improves outcomes. A systematic review was performed of all available evidence pertaining to paediatric or adult patients treated for bone or soft tissue sarcoma at a specialised centre compared with non-specialised centres. Outcomes assessed included local control, limb salvage rate, 30-day and 90-day surgical mortality, and overall survival. Definitive surgical management at a specialised sarcoma centre improves local control as defined by margin negative surgery, local or locoregional recurrence, and local recurrence free survival. Limb conservation rates are higher at specialised centres, due in part to the depth of surgical experience and immediate availability of multidisciplinary and multimodal therapy. A statistically significant correlation did not exist for 30-day and 90-day mortality between specialised centres and non-specialised centres. The literature is consistent with improved survival when definitive surgical treatment is performed at a specialised sarcoma centre. Evidence-based recommendation: Patients with suspected sarcoma to be referred to a specialised sarcoma centre for surgical management to reduce the risk of local recurrence, surgical complication, and to improve limb conservation and survival. Practice point: Patients with suspected sarcoma should be referred to a specialised sarcoma centre early for management including planned biopsy

Distal radius fractures (DRF) are common and the indication for surgical treatment remain controversial in patients higher than 60 years old. The purpose of the study was to review and analyze the current evidence-based literature. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines in order to evaluate the efficacy of volar locking plating (VLP) and conservative treatment in DRF in patients over 60 years old. Electronic databases including MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Embase, Web of science and Clinical Trial.gov were searched from inception to October 2020 for randomized controlled trials. Relevant article reference lists were also passed over. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted the data. Main outcomes included functional status: wrist range of motion, validated scores and grip strength. Secondary outcomes include post-operative complications and radiologic assessment. From 3009 screened citations, 5 trials (539 patients) met the inclusion criteria. All trials of this random effect meta-analysis were at moderate risk of bias due to lack of blinding. Differences in the DASH score (MD −5,91; 95% CI, −8,83; −3,00), PRWE score (MD −9.07; 95% CI, −14.57, −3.57) and grip strength (MD 5,12; 95% CI, 0,59-9,65) were statistically significant and favored VLPs. No effect was observed in terms of range of motion. Adverse events are frequent in both treatment groups, reoperation rate is higher in the VLP group. VLP may provide better functional outcomes in patients higher than 60 years old. More RCT are still needed to evaluate if the risks and complications of VLP outweigh the benefits