Abstract
The outcome of conservative treatment of distal radius was evaluated using clinical and radiographic findings in patients treated at our hospital during the past 5 years. Non-comminuted fractures such as chauffeur's fracture and Barton's fracture were excluded from the study. The subjects of this follow-up study were 45 patients, 10 men and 35 women. Of the 45 patients, 39 were treated by immobilization in a cast alone after reduction. Percutaneous pinning was added to the immobilization in 6. Saito's scale was used to rate clinical findings. Radiographic findings of the length, radial angle and volar angle measured on radiograms obtained after removal of the cast were rated with Scheck's rating system. The dislocation of radiocarpal joint surface of the radius was assessed by measuring the degrees of separation and step-off while in the case after reduction. The therapeutic outcome was excellent in 18, good in 19, fair in 7 and poor in 1. The involvement of the distal radioulnar joint coupled with a step-off of 1mm or greater tended to indicate poor or fair prognosis. The clinical score was not associated with age, Scheck's radiographic score, nor the extent of separation.
