Management of Distal Radius Fractures
Summary
Distal radius fractures represent one of the most frequent injuries encountered in both acute trauma and osteoporotic populations. Management hinges on accurate assessment of fracture pattern, patient age, bone quality and functional demands. Classification systems, notably the AO/OTA schema, guide decision‐making by distinguishing extra‐articular, partial and complete intra‐articular injuries. Nonoperative treatment with closed reduction and immobilisation remains the mainstay for minimally displaced or stable fractures, particularly in older, low‐demand patients. Surgical intervention is indicated in displaced, unstable or intra‐articular injuries to restore articular congruity, radial height and volar tilt. Contemporary fixation methods include volar locking plates, percutaneous Kirschner wires, external fixation and fragment‐specific devices. Advances in three-dimensional imaging, computer-assisted preoperative planning and patient-specific instrumentation have enhanced accuracy of reduction and implant placement. Rehabilitation protocols emphasise early mobilisation to optimise functional recovery, while complication management—such as tendon irritation, malunion and post-traumatic arthritis—remains a critical aspect of longitudinal care. Ongoing research seeks to refine criteria for operative versus nonoperative pathways, to improve biomechanical performance of implants and to tailor interventions to individual anatomical and lifestyle considerations on a global scale.
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Management of Distal Radius Fractures publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in management of distal radius fractures across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Distal radius fracture: Break in the end portion of the radius bone near the wrist.
Volar locking plate: Contoured metal plate with threaded screw holes for secure fixation on the palm side of the wrist.
Kirschner wire fixation: Use of thin, smooth wires to stabilise bone fragments percutaneously.
Osteotomy: Surgical cutting of bone to correct deformity or malunion.
Finite element analysis: Computational method that models stress and strain in bone-implant constructs under loading.
References
- Three-dimensional imaging of the forearm and hand: A comparison between two 3D imaging systems. PLOS Digital Health (2024).
- Computer-assisted pre-operative automatic segmentation and registration tool for malunited radius osteotomy: A proof-of-concept study. Results in Engineering (2023).
- Epidemiology, classification, treatment and mortality of distal radius fractures in adults: an observational study of 23,394 fractures from the national Swedish fracture register. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2020).
- Operative vs Nonoperative Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures in Adults. JAMA Network Open (2020).
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