title: [Unrepaired fracture of the styloid process of the ulna: not a bad treatment result at distal radius fracture].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are well-defined criteria for the treatment of distal radius fractures but the impact of an unrepaired fracture of the styloid process of the ulnar on recovery after operative treatment is uncertain. This study evaluated radiological and functional results after different operative treatment procedures of distal radius fractures in patients with an untreated fracture of the styloid process of the ulna and those without such a fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 480 patients with operatively treated distal radius fractures 238 were examined at least 1 year after injury. The fracture of the styloid process of the ulna was not repaired. Three groups (patients without a fracture of the styloid process of the ulna, patients with a tip fracture and those with a basal fracture) were evaluated by multivariate analysis (MANOVA) in order to detect influences of the fracture of the styloid process of the ulna on the radiological and functional results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither the existence nor the location of the fracture of the styloid process of the ulna had a significant effect on the radiological and functional results (p(function)=0,849, p(radiology)=0,330, p(scores)=0,426, MANOVA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The repair of a fracture of the styloid process of the ulna is not necessary if reduction and fixation of the distal radius fracture is anatomical and stable.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum der Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Deutschland. michael_reichl@gmx.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichl
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piatek
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adolf
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Winckler
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Westphal
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology