Distal Radius Fractures

Hand
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
  • Trigger Finger/Trigger Thumb
  • Basilar Thumb Arthritis
  • Finger Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Dupytren’s Contracture
  • Tendon Lacerations
  • Tetraplegic Reconstruction

    Wrist
  • DeQuervain’s Tendinitis
  • Wrist Ganglion
  • Distal Radius Fractures
  • Scaphoid Fractures
  • Triangular Fibrocartilage Tear
  • Wrist Arthritis

    Elbow
  • Tennis Elbow
  • Distal Biceps Tendon Tear
  • Elbow Fractures
  • Elbow Ligament Injuries
  • Elbow Arthritis

    Shoulder
  • Rotator Cuff Tendinosis
  • Rotator Cuff Tear
  • Shoulder Instability/Dislocations
  • SLAP Lesions


    • CT scan showing the intra-articular depression (step-off) of the central cartilage (arrow).
    CT scan showing the intra-articular depression (step-off) of the central cartilage

    Distal radius fractures are the most common fracture of the entire arm. They come in many different types and patterns, which are all treated differently.

    If the fracture is minimally-displaced (hasn’t moved significantly), it’s treated in a short-arm cast for 5 weeks.

    If the fracture is displaced, an attempt at ‘setting the fracture’ (closed reduction) may be attempted in the office for certain fracture patterns. Following closed reduction, you need to get follow-up radiographs every week for three weeks to make sure it doesn’t move back to an unacceptable position, which unfortunately can happen.


    Plated Distal Radius Fracture that’s healed in excellent position:

    If the fracture is in the joint with a ‘step-off’of the joint surface, you’ll usually need a CT scan to further define the injury, and then surgery to restore the anatomy to as normal as we can get it and hopefully prevent arthritis. A 1 mm step-off leads to arthritis in 90% of cases. If surgery decreases the step-off to <1 mm, the chance of developing arthritis falls to about 10%. If the step-off is 2 mm or more, the chance of developing arthritis is close to 100%.

    In my opinion, most displaced distal fractures are best fixed with a “locking” plate, which ‘locks’ the major pieces rigidly into position. In most cases, the arm is only splinted for only about a week after surgery, after which time showering is allowed and a hand therapy is begun to regain motion.

    Distal radius fractures are often associated with ligament injuries. If these are obvious, they’ll be treated at the time of surgery. However, many times they’re subtle. In these cases, they often don’t cause problems, and heal with the fracture. If they cause problems later, they can be treated later.