Outcomes in Patients with Bilateral Distal Radius Fractures

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology
• Radiology

Background:

• Bilateral distal radius fractures (DRFs) are rare, with limited data on incidence and treatment outcomes.
• Understanding patient demographics and management strategies for bilateral DRFs is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the demographics, management, and functional outcomes of patients with bilateral DRFs.
• To compare outcomes between operative and nonoperative treatment groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 85 patients with bilateral DRFs treated between 2016-2019.
• Classification of fractures by AO type and analysis of range of motion (ROM) and Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) scores.
• Comparison of demographics, mechanism of injury (MOI), and complications across treatment groups (operative, nonoperative, mixed).

Main Results:

• Pediatric patients had higher energy MOIs and more AO type A fractures than adults.
• Bilateral DRFs showed a higher rate of operative intervention compared to unilateral fractures.
• No significant difference in QuickDASH scores between operative and nonoperative adult groups.

Conclusions:

• Bilateral DRFs exhibit a bimodal age distribution similar to unilateral fractures.
• Younger patients with bilateral DRFs are more likely to receive nonoperative management.
• Postoperative ROM and complication rates are comparable across treatment groups, irrespective of age.