[Unrepaired Fracture of the Styloid Process of the Ulna: Not a Bad Treatment Result at Distal Radius Fracture]

Overview

Journal Unfallchirurg

Date 2010 Sep 11

PMID 20830577

Citations 5

Authors

M Reichl

S Piatek

D Adolf

S Winckler

T Westphal

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: There are well-defined criteria for the treatment of distal radius fractures but the impact of an unrepaired fracture of the styloid process of the ulnar on recovery after operative treatment is uncertain. This study evaluated radiological and functional results after different operative treatment procedures of distal radius fractures in patients with an untreated fracture of the styloid process of the ulna and those without such a fracture.

Methods: Out of 480 patients with operatively treated distal radius fractures 238 were examined at least 1 year after injury. The fracture of the styloid process of the ulna was not repaired. Three groups (patients without a fracture of the styloid process of the ulna, patients with a tip fracture and those with a basal fracture) were evaluated by multivariate analysis (MANOVA) in order to detect influences of the fracture of the styloid process of the ulna on the radiological and functional results.

Results: Neither the existence nor the location of the fracture of the styloid process of the ulna had a significant effect on the radiological and functional results (p(function)=0,849, p(radiology)=0,330, p(scores)=0,426, MANOVA).

Conclusions: The repair of a fracture of the styloid process of the ulna is not necessary if reduction and fixation of the distal radius fracture is anatomical and stable.

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Radiographic Healing and Functional Outcomes of Untreated Ulnar Styloid Fractures Following Volar Plate Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures: A Prospective Analysis.

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