Conservative Treatment for Distal Radius Fractures

Ha, Sang Ho; Lee, Sang Hong; Shin, Dong Min; Pyo, Young Bae; Mun, Hyun Sik

Abstract

Fracture of the distal radius is one of the most common injuries Met in the orthopaedic field. Once it was thought that good function comes despite poor anatomic restoration in distal radius fractures. But now maximum recovery of wrist function is dependent on accurate and stable reduction of the radial articular surface. We reviewed thirty-nine cases of distal radius fracture that were treated with closed reduction under C-arm field and then the wrist was immobilized by a sugar tong cast splint and then a long arm cast, from Aug. 1992 to Aug. 1995 at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of Chosun University Hospital. The results of this study were as follows; 1. The main causes of these injuries were from slipping(51.3%) and falling down(28.2%). 2. Among the 39 cases of distal radius fracture, 12 cases(30.8% ) had unstable fractures. 3. In the 39 case, satisfactory results were shown in 25 cases but, in the unstable fracture group, 10 cases out of 12 cases showed unsatisfactory results. 4. When the articular surface of the radius was severely comminuted and the fracture site was severely displaced, the result of this study was poor. 5. Accurate and stable reduction of the radial articular surface & radial length was significantly correlated with the clinical results.