1073 Optimising the Acute Management of Distal Radius Fractures: Re-Audit

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Aim Distal radius fractures are a common presentation and early management is often in the emergency department (ED). Good, early management in the ED has been shown to reduce the number of people requiring operative treatment. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a staff training programme intervention on the number of patients requiring theatre. Method Three training sessions were held, training ED staff on fracture management standards according to BOAST guidelines. These included manipulation with finger traps (instead of in-line traction) and application of effective three-point moulded plaster. We assessed reduction from radiographs pre- and post-reduction. Data on patients’ requirement for further management were collected and compared to previous years. Results Satisfactory reduction in ED was achieved in 42.8% of patients. Requirement for eventual operative reduction in theatre was reduced to 17.3% from 45% and 24.1% in 2018 and 2020 respectively. This may be attributable to adoption of reduction with finger traps after training sessions, although no patients received a three-point moulded plaster in the ED. Conclusions This study found that the staff training sessions improved the quality of reduction of distal radius fractures. This lowered the operative intervention rate (17.3%), which is still higher than seen in the literature (10%). This could be improved by further interventions to standardise application of appropriately moulded plaster.