[Are there any indications for surgery of distal radius malunion in elderly patients?]

Malunions of the distal radius are associated most of the time with disturbances of the distal radioulnar (DRU) joint. While a corrective osteotomy of the distal radius is a well-known procedure in younger patients, manual workers and active patients, is it justified in independent elderly patients above 70 years of age? These techniques improve function, reorient the articular surfaces, protect against complications such as degenerative osteoarthritis and stiffness of the wrist, and they improve DRU balance. Osteotomies performed with bone or artificial grafts have comparable outcomes. Either a volar or dorsal approach can be used depending on the orientation of the carpal articular surface of the radius and the need to lengthen the radius. If the patient is active and independent, the clinical benefit is higher when an osteotomy is done for significant malunions; urgent treatment of these older patients brings about additional costs and unclear benefits.