Signs and symptoms | Diagnosis | Non-Operative Treatment | Surgery | Incidence
A distal radius fracture is a common bone fracture of the radius in the forearm. Because of its proximity to the wrist joint, this injury is often called a wrist fracture. Treatment is usually with immobilization, although surgery is sometimes needed for complex fractures.
Specific types of distal radius fractures are:
| Distal radius fracture | |
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| Classification and external resources | |
Colles fracture on X-ray
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The most common cause of this type of fracture is a fall on an outstretched hand. In young adults this fracture is the result of moderate to severe force such as a fall from a significant height or a motor vehicle accident. The risk of injury is increased in patients with osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases.
Patients usually present with a history of an injury and localized pain. There is often a deformity in the wrist with associated swelling (figure 1). Numbness of the hand can occur because of compression on the median nerve across the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome). The wrist deformity often limits motion of the fingers.
Swelling, deformity, tenderness and loss of wrist motion are normal features on examination of a patient with a distal radius fracture. Examination should rule out a skin wound which might suggest an open fracture. It is imperative to check for loss of sensation, loss of circulation to the hand, and more proximal injuries to the forearm, elbow and shoulder. The most common associated neurological finding is decreased sensation over the thenar eminence due to associated median nerve injury.
The most commonly associated injury is to the ulnar styloid. Styloid fractures can occur either to the very tip of the styloid or at the base. Because the triangular fibrocartilage (TFCC) attaches to the base of the ulna styloid, displaced fractures can result in instability of the distal radio-ulnar joint. Carpal bone fractures such as those to the scaphoid have been described, whereas instability or dislocations of the wrist are seen with certain types of distal radius and ulna fractures. Injuries to the elbow, humerus and shoulder are also common after aFOOSH (fall on outstretched hand). Swelling and displacement can cause compression on the median nerve across the wrist, an acutecarpal tunnel syndrome. Very rarely is pressure on the muscle components of the hand or forearm sufficient to create a compartment syndrome.
Diagnosis may be evident clinically when the distal radius is deformed but should be confirmed by X-ray. The differential diagnosisincludes scaphoid fractures and wrist dislocations, which can also co-exist with a distal radius fracture. Occasionally, fractures may not be seen on X-rays immediately after the injury. Delayed X-rays, X-ray computed tomography (CT scan), or Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will confirm the diagnosis.
X-ray of the affected wrist is required if a fracture is suspected. CT scan is often performed to investigate the articular anatomy of the fracture, especially if surgery is considered. Investigation of a potential distal radial fracture includes assessment of the angle of the joint surface on lateral X-ray, the loss of length of the radius from the collapse of the fracture, and congruency of the distal radioulnar joint. Displacement of the articular surface is the most important factor affecting prognosis and treatment.
The type of treatment required depends on many factors, including displacement and stability of the fracture fragments.
For torus fractures a splint may be sufficient and casting may be avoided.
Where the fracture is undisplaced and stable, non operative treatment involves immobilization. Initially the wrist is splinted to allow swelling and subsequently a cast is applied. Depending on the nature of the fracture, the cast may be placed above the elbow to control forearm rotation.
In displaced fractures, the fracture may be manipulated under anaesthesia and splinted in a position to minimize the risk of re-displacement. Typically, this involves injecting local anesthesia into the fracture (hematoma block) possibly combined with intravenous medication. A manual reduction is performed to reposition the displaced distal radius into its preinjury position and maintain this position in a well formed splint or cast.
During the period of follow-up, it is common practice to repeat x-rays at about 1 week to make sure the position is still acceptable. Further followup is needed to determine when the fracture has healed and when rehabilitation is complete. The critical time during the period of attempted treatment with casting is the first 3 weeks. The swelling will reduce during this time and the fracture can displace. If the displacement becomes unacceptable, closed treatment may need to be abandoned and surgery pursued. More than 3 weeks after injury, the fracture will start to heal and further displacement becomes less likely.
The length of time in the cast varies with different ages. Children heal more rapidly, but may ignore activity restrictions. Three weeks in a cast and 6 weeks off sports may be appropriate for certain fractures. In adults, the risk of stiffness of the joint increases the longer it is immobilized. If callus is seen on x-ray at 4 weeks, the cast may be replaced by a removable splint. However, many hand surgeons leave the patients in the cast for up to 6 weeks. In general, the x-rays will not show any callus until about a month after the fracture is healed; therefore the cast is removed before the x-rays confirm that it is healed.
Displaced fractures in the elderly or those physiologically unable to undergo surgery are treated differently. When the fracture is displaced and there are no plans for a surgery, a short arm cast is placed for only 4 weeks or until the tenderness resolves. A larger cast placed for an extended period of time only slows down recovery in this group of patients.
Following healing and cast removal a period of rehabilitation for recovery of strength and range of motion is necessary. Patients will continue to improve after the fracture for 4 to 12 months.
Closed management of a distal radius fracture involves first anesthetizing the affected area with a hematoma block, regional anesthesia,sedation or a general anesthetic.
Manipulation generally includes first placing the arm under traction and unlocking the fragments. The deformity is then reduced with appropriate closed manipulations (depending on the type of deformity) reduction, after which a splint or cast is placed and an X-ray is taken to ensure that the reduction was successful. The cast is usually maintained for about 6 weeks.
Closed treatment is frequently unsuccessful in maintaining a good position in adults, because there is frequently comminution of the fracture. Re-displacement and deformity can reoccur with an unacceptable ultimate result.
Failure of non-operative treatment is common and is the largest risk of an adverse outcome. Studies have shown that the fracture often re-displaces to its original position even in a cast. Only 27% - 32% of fractures are in acceptable alignment 5 weeks after closed reduction. In the long term this increases the risk of stiffness and post traumaticosteoarthritis leading to wrist pain and loss of function. It is because of these findings that many surgeons recommend operative intervention if the fracture is displaced enough to consider a reduction. Ultimately, the fractures that have a closed reduction may return to the position before the reduction is attempted.
Stiffness of the wrist is universal following a fracture of the distal radius. The degree of stiffness in the wrist is dependent on the type of fracture and the period of immobilization. It is for this reason that an open reduction is advantageous. It is also quite common for patients to develop digital stiffness after a fracture of the distal radius. Aggressive movement of the digits while immobilized or following operative treatment is stressed to minimize digital stiffness.
Other risks specific to cast treatment relate to the potential for compression of the swollen arm causing carpal tunnel syndrome or compartment syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome may be related to the position of the wrist (i.e. excessive flexion) or excess distraction if the wrist is placed in an external fixator. Compartment syndrome is swelling in the muscle compartments, usually in the forearm, leading to severe pain, loss of nerve function and a contracture. Finally, complex regional pain syndrome (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) is a serious complication following injury and is thought to be more common after cast immobilization than after surgery. The provoking factors for regional pain syndromes, however, are very complex but the condition often leads to chronic pain and stiffness.
In children the outcome of distal radius fracture treatment in casts is usually very successful with healing and return to normal function expected. Some residual deformity is common but this often remodels as the child grows. In the elderly, distal radius fractures heal and may result in adequate function following non-operative treatment. A large proportion of these fractures occur in elderly people that may have less requirement for strenuous use of their wrists. Some of these patients tolerate severe deformities and minor loss of wrist motion very well even without reduction of the fracture. In this low demand group only a short period of immobilization is indicated as rapid mobilization improves functional outcome.
In younger patients the injury requires greater force and results in more displacement particularly to the articular surface. Unless an accurate reduction of the joint surface is obtained, these patients are very likely to have long term symptoms of pain, arthritis, and stiffness.
Contemporary surgical options have improved treatment of this injury.
Techniques include:
Prognosis varies depending on dozens of variables. If the anatomy (bony alignment) is not properly restored, function may remain poor even after healing. Restoration of bony alignment is not a guarantee of success, as there are significant soft tissue contributions to the healing process.
An arthroscope can be used at the time of fixation to evaluate for soft tissue injury. Structures at risk include the triangular fibrocartilage complex and the scapholunate ligament. Scapholunate injuries in radial styloid fractures where the fracture line exits distally at the scapholunate interval should be considered. TFCC injuries causing obvious DRUJ instability can be addressed at the time of fixation.
Distal fracture of the radius is the most commonly occurring fracture in adults. It is common in the elderly because of the frequent osteopenia and osteoporosis in this age group. This is also a common injury in children which may involve the growth plate. A similar fracture in children involving the growth plate is called a Salter-Harris fracture. In young adults, the injury is often very severe because it requires greater force to produce the injury.
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