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Post-traumatic ulna plus variance associated with poor outcomes for distal radius fractures
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Researchers in this study found that post-traumatic ulna plus variance greater than 2 mm was the only factor significantly associated with poor outcome when analyzing a cohort of young patients with unilateral distal radius fractures who were not yet at risk for osteoporosis.
“The present study showed that post-traumatic ulna [plus variance] is the most important factor in predicting bad outcome in non-osteoporotic patients, but that especially intra-articular fractures and to a lesser extent dorsal tilt may be of importance too,” the researchers wrote in the study abstract.
The researchers evaluated pre-reduction anteroposterior and lateral wrist radiographs from 66 patients with a median age of 42 years, according to the abstract. They measured fracture pattern, radial length, inclination, joint surface tilt, ulnar variance and measured outcomes using the Gartland and Werley score.
Although not statistically significant, the researchers noted that intra-articular fracture pattern may also be a strong marker for a poor outcome.
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
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