Treatment of Unstable Distal Radius Fracture Based on Osteoporosis

In many unstable distal radius fractures based on osteoporosis, if reduction is once gained, maintaining the reduction is difficult. We performed open reduction with bonegrafting, internal fixation with Kirschner wires, and external fixation. The fixator was applied with no gross distraction. We evaluated the results for ten patients with osteoporosis estimated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Adjacent joint motion was encuraged immediately. The external fixation was removed at 6 weeks and wrist active exercises began.The average duration of follow-up was 16 weeks. At the follow-up examination, the range of motion of the adjacent joints was full; Dorsal flexion of the wrist averaged 87.8 degrees, volar flexion of the wrist 81.1 degrees, ulnar deviation 60 degrees, and radial deviation 27.8 degrees. The result was assessed by Saito's scale. According to the scale, all the patients were excellent.