Functional Outcomes of Conservative Management of Colles Fracture Among Elderly Patients in Port Harcourt

Colles fracture, a distal radial fracture typically occurring from a fall on an outstretched hand, is one of the most common orthopaedic injuries in the elderly population. This prospective observational study evaluates the functional outcomes of conservative management, specifically closed reduction and plaster cast immobilisation, among patients aged 60 years and above presenting at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, South South Nigeria. Over a period of six months, consenting patients will be enrolled and followed up at four, eight, and twelve weeks post-injury. Outcome measures will include wrist range of motion, grip strength, radiological alignment, and patient-reported function using the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) scale. Comorbidities, osteoporosis status, and plaster compliance will be documented as potential confounders. This study hypothesises that older age and osteoporosis are significant predictors of poor functional recovery following conservative management. Results will inform clinical protocols for elderly trauma care in the South South zone, where the aging population and limited surgical infrastructure necessitate robust non-operative management guidelines. The findings will be presented to the department of orthopaedics at UPTH and submitted to a national orthopaedic journal for wider dissemination. Contributing to evidence-based conservative orthopaedic care for the elderly in resource-limited environments is the overarching goal of this inquiry. Keywords: Colles fracture, conservative management, elderly patients, functional outcome, Port Harcourt.