title: [Outcomes after operative treatment of distal radius fractures - an analysis of 721 patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Treatment strategies in distal radius fractures differ nationally and internationally. Conservative and operative treatment options compete as well as implants, postoperative therapy regimens and the necessity of implant removal. In our institution operative treatment is favoured. In the following the results of 721 surgically treated patients are presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  PATIENTS who underwent operative treatment of their distal radius fractures in our institution between 2008 and 2011 were retrospectively analysed. Following patient characteristics have been surveyed regarding age, sex, location of plate osteosynthesis, operation time, time of cast immobilisation and complications like infections, tendon ruptures, need of revision surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  721 patients (mean age: 59.03 years) were retrospectively analysed. 514 of them (71.29 %) were female. Time of operation was after a mean duration of 5.48 days. In 558 (77.39 %) patients we performed palmar plate osteosynthesis. 89 (12.34 %) had dorsal plate osteosynthesis and 74 (10.3 %) cases were treated with either K-wires or screws. 18 (2.5 %) patients had concomitant traumatic carpal tunnel syndrome and a concomitant SL rupture was seen in 38 (5.27 %) patients. 40 (5.55 %) patients underwent operative revision because of posttraumatic carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 15), tendon ruptures (n = 7), malposition of screws (n = 6), loss of reduction (n = 6) and infection (n = 3). Mean duration of in-hospital stay after operation was 6.6 days. Implant removal was performed in 77 (10.7) patients; 59 (8.2 %) patients had palmar plate osteosynthesis and 18 (2.5 %) patients had dorsal plating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the low complication rate after operative treatment of distal radius fractures, osteosynthesis of this fracture seems to be warranted. Regarding the patients' higher age we have seen an unexpectedly long in-hospital stay with a mean time of 6.6 days. Herein attempts should be made to reduce time of in-hospital stay. In our opinion implant removal should not be recommended routinely.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH, Standort Marburg.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH, Standort Marburg.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Debus
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH, Standort Marburg.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Viszeral-, Thorax und Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH, Standort Marburg.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López-López
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH, Standort Marburg.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruchholtz
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg GmbH, Standort Marburg.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kühne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*