title: Relationship of bone mineral density of spine and femoral neck to distal radius fracture stability in patients over 65.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that an increasing degree of osteopenia in the femoral neck and lumbar spine would be associated with loss of reduction after closed manipulation and splinting of distal radius fractures in patients over 65 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review, evaluating 78 patients with displaced distal radius fractures managed with closed reduction and splinting. T-scores from the lumbar spine and femoral neck were recorded from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans performed either within 1 year before or after injury. Volar tilt, radial height, radial inclination, and ulnar variance were evaluated from the initial fracture, postreduction, and final follow-up radiographs. We calculated the percentage of reduction maintained regarding reduction variable. We correlated T-scores of the lumbar spine and femoral neck with the percentage of retained reduction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no correlation between T-scores of the lumbar spine or femoral neck and the amount of reduction lost throughout the healing process of distal radius fractures with respect to volar tilt, radial height, radial inclination, or ulnar variance. Reduction was of no anatomical benefit in 53% to radial height, 44% to radial inclination, and 54% to ulnar variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be no relationship between bone mineral density, based on T-scores of the lumbar spine and femoral neck, and the ability to maintain reduction after closed manipulation and splinting of displaced distal radius fractures in patients over 65 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prognostic III.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopaedics and Surgery, Scott and White Healthcare, Temple, TX.
authors.forename: Brett N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Robin
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopaedics and Surgery, Scott and White Healthcare, Temple, TX. Electronic address: mellington@sw.org.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ellington
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopaedics and Surgery, Scott and White Healthcare, Temple, TX.
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jupiter
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopaedics and Surgery, Scott and White Healthcare, Temple, TX.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bone mineral density; closed reduction; distal radius fracture