title: Predicting the outcome of distal radius fractures.
abstract: There are myriad factors that affect patient satisfaction following a distal radius fracture, including anatomic alignment, age, motion, pain,and hand dominance to name a few. The seeming contradictions in the literature serve to illustrate that individual outcomes are not entirely predict-able because of the different functional demands,expectations, and pain tolerance for each patient. Elderly populations may tolerate greater degrees of residual deformity because of a more sedentary lifestyle. Unrecognized intracarpal pathology may account for poor results despite acceptable radiographic alignment. Possessing a knowledge of the predictive factors that affect adversely the functional outcome, however, does allow the surgeon to manage complications proactively to maximize the potential for an acceptable end result.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, 3475 Torrance Blvd., Suite F, Torrance, CA 90503, USA. d-slutsky@msn.com
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Slutsky
mesh_terms: D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000209:etiology; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000503:physiopathology