Open Distal Radius Fractures: Timing and Strategies for Surgical Management

Open distal radius fractures are rare injuries with few studies to guide treatment. Degree of soft tissue injury and contamination may be a primary consideration to dictate timing and operative intervention. Antibiotics should be started as early as possible and include a first-generation cephalosporin. Surgical fixation remains a matter of surgeon preference: although studies support the use of definitive internal fixation, many surgeons address contaminated injuries with external fixation. Although postoperative outcomes are similar to closed injuries for low-grade open distal radius fractures, high-grade injuries with more complex fracture patterns carry a high risk of complications, poor outcomes, and repeat surgical procedures.