Treatment of Non-Displaced Fractures

Treatment Approach Based on Fracture Type

Non-displaced or minimally displaced distal radius fractures can be effectively treated with cast immobilization, with rigid immobilization preferred over removable splints for displaced fractures, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 1
Most proximal humeral fractures can be treated non-operatively with good functional outcomes, although treatment of displaced three-part and four-part fractures remains controversial and may require surgical intervention, as suggested by the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2

Stable non-displaced femoral neck fractures can be addressed with cannulated fixation in a percutaneous manner, while displaced femoral neck fractures typically require surgical intervention with either hemiarthroplasty or total hip replacement, as recommended by the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 3
For elderly patients with fragility fractures, appropriate treatment requires a balanced approach regarding operative versus non-operative management, according to the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 3

Patients with diabetes and active Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy with non-displaced fractures require special consideration for offloading to prevent deformity progression, as suggested by Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews 4
Each patient aged 50 years and over with a recent fracture should be evaluated systematically for the risk of subsequent fractures, according to the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 5

For patients 50 years or older with this fragility fracture pattern, the American College of Rheumatology recommends systematically evaluating for osteoporosis risk with bone density assessment, and initiating pharmacological treatment with bisphosphonates for high-risk patients, as well as ensuring adequate calcium and vitamin D supplementation 6, 7, 8
The American College of Rheumatology suggests initiating pharmacological treatment with bisphosphonates, such as alendronate or risedronate, as first-line treatment for high-risk patients 8