This 2012 narrative review from the Journal of Hand Surgery synthesizes five years of literature on distal radius fracture management, asking: given the global rise in surgical fixation, which techniques offer the best evidence for guiding treatment decisions across fixation methods, imaging, classification, and associated soft tissue injuries?
When planning fixation for a distal radius fracture, check for the six cumulative instability risk factors (age >60, >20° dorsal angulation, ≥5 mm radial shortening, dorsal comminution, ulna fracture, intra-articular involvement) — their presence tips the risk-benefit toward operative management.
After volar plate fixation, actively monitor for median nerve dysfunction, especially with locking plates placed distal to the watershed line, and test DRUJ stability under anesthesia: >1 cm dorsal-palmar translation mandates formal instability workup.
This 2012 narrative review from the Journal of Hand Surgery synthesizes five years of literature on distal radius fracture management, asking: given the global rise in surgical fixation, which techniques offer the best evidence for guiding treatment decisions across fixation methods, imaging, classification, and associated soft tissue injuries?
When planning fixation for a distal radius fracture, check for the six cumulative instability risk factors (age >60, >20° dorsal angulation, ≥5 mm radial shortening, dorsal comminution, ulna fracture, intra-articular involvement) — their presence tips the risk-benefit toward operative management.
After volar plate fixation, actively monitor for median nerve dysfunction, especially with locking plates placed distal to the watershed line, and test DRUJ stability under anesthesia: >1 cm dorsal-palmar translation mandates formal instability workup.