Long-term functional outcomes of ORIF for Intra-Articular Distal Radius Fractures

Fractuers of the distal radius is the most common fracture in the orthopaedic
practice. It is well established that instable fractures of the distal part of
the radius may require operative treatment to restore alignment and that
failure to restore alignment often leads to wrist and forearm dysfunction.
Although sometimes stated otherwise, the outcome of these fractures is not
uniformly good regardless the treatment instituted. There is ongoing debate in
the literature whether or not there is a strict relationship between the
quality of anatomical reconstruction and functional outcome.

There are several theories of how malalignment will cause problems in the long
term. However, the literature on the relationship between anatomy and function
of the distal radius is inconsistent an incomplete. There is no long-term date
on intra-articulair distal radius fractures in the orthopaedic literature. Most
of it is 10 years or fewer outcomes and nearly all is after non-operative
treatment.

There is a abundance of short-term retrospective studies on various plating
techniques for operative treatment of intra-articulair distal radius fractures
in the orthopaedis literature. Most of these studies are industry driven to
evaluate the results of a new fixation techniques.

There is a short of long-term objective and subjective functional outcome.
This is a retrospective non-comparative cohort review of patients from the ""AO
AMC database"" with ORIF treatment treated for a intra-articular distal radius
fracture with at least 10 year of follow-up.

The aim of this project is to assess objective and subjective functional
long-term outcome of patients with intra-articulair distal radius fractures
treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). This will be done by
standardized objective and subjective scales. We will evaluate factors that are
predictors of good outcome.

All patiets treated for a IADR fracture with ORIF treatment who are registrated
in the AO-AMC database will be invited to take part of the study. They will be
asked to return to the Academic Medical Centre to take part in a long-term
follow-up research.

The DASH questionnaire and the Modiefied Gartland and Werley and Modified Mayo
Wrist Scores will be filled out by the patients at their long-term follow up
appointment. Range of motion in the radio-ulnar deviation,
pronation-suplination and flexion-extension arcs will be measured with a hand
held goniometer. Lastly, objective evaluation for grip strengthwill be
performed by authors not involved in the patient care.

Finally there will be taken 3 X-rays to evaluete objectieve state of the wrist

Except for a one time visit to the AMC Amsterdam, there is no futher burden for
the patient.

There is very low risk, classified as tricial, for the X-rays of the wrist.