Demographics, fracture patterns and treatment strategies following wrist trauma

The objective of this study was to determine the percentage of radiographs which showed a fracture of the wrist. Secondary, the fracture characteristics and the received treatment were determined. Additionally, the percentage of operatively treated patients with a distal radius fracture was compared between the hospitals. A retrospective cohort study was performed in three Dutch hospitals in all consecutive adult patients with wrist trauma who presented at the ED. A fracture of the wrist was defined as a fracture of the distal one-third part of the radius, the distal one-third part of the ulna or any carpal bone. Fracture classification according to the AO/OTA classification, the amount of displaced fractures, and the received treatment were recorded. Out of 1740 patients with wrist trauma, 49% sustained one or more fractures of the wrist. The distal radius was most frequently fractured (61%). Almost half of the distal radius fractures was extra-articular (AO/OTA type A2-3) and 61% of fractures was displaced. Of all patients who sustained a distal radius fracture, 14% was treated operatively. Significantly more patients were treated operatively in the academic hospital in comparison to the teaching and non-teaching hospital.