Fractures of the distal end of radius in elderly patients: a comparative study of anatomical and functional results.
The functional and anatomical results of distal end of radius fractures with severe displacement in 22 elderly patients are reviewed in this retrospective study. The mean age of the patients was 69.4 years (range, 60-88 years) and the mean follow-up period was 24 months (range, 12-53 months). According to the sum of demerit points (Saito, 1983), the latest follow-up functional end results were  excellent  in 64% of fractures and  good  in 36%. As for the anatomical results at follow-up, the average radial tilt was 20.7 degrees, ulnar variance was 4.0 mm, and palmar tilt was -2.7 degrees respectively. Though most of the patients had satisfactory outcome and the functional results did not correlate with the radiographic evidence of minor deformities, the functional results of the patients with radial shortening of 6 mm or over were poor. Furthermore, the grip power was the most significant factor related to subjective evaluation and did not improve significantly in patients with the non-dominant hand injured.
Fujii
Koji
K
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Health Insurance Naruto Hospital, Tokushima, Japan. fujii5@tk3.nmt.ne.jp
Henmi
Tatsuhiko
T
Kanematsu
Yoshiji
Y
Mishiro
Takuya
T
Sakai
Toshinori
T
Terai
Tomoya
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003100:Colles' Fracture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome