title: Dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius - a study of preferred treatment options among UK trauma and orthopaedic surgeons.
abstract: Distal radius fractures are common, and surgeons have in their armament a variety of ways of treating them. In this study, 50 orthopaedic surgeons in the UK were shown five clinical scenarios and radiographs from patients with various fracture patterns of the distal radius, and were asked for their preferred management. There was a wide variation in the preferred treatment for each scenario presented. Across all of the cases, 52% of surgeons preferred to use a volar locking-plate compared with 21% who chose fixation with Kirschner wires. There was very little consensus among surgeons with regard to the optimal method of fixation for patients sustaining dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius. This disagreement is not surprising as there is currently no high level evidence to guide surgeons as to the best management option for this common and potentially debilitating injury.
authors.affiliation: Trauma and Orthopaedic Department, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1DD, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baraza
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Whalley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brewster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011884:Radius / Q000601:surgery*; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000601:surgery