Outcomes of Distal Radius Fractures: A Comparison Between Fellowship-Trained Trauma and Hand Orthopaedic Surgeons

To evaluate outcomes and complications after fixation of distal radius fractures performed by a fellowship-trained trauma versus hand orthopaedic surgeons.

A retrospective review of operative distal radius fractures between 8/2022 and 8/2024 at a single academic, level I trauma center was performed. The primary outcome was unplanned reoperations. Secondary outcomes included reduction quality and complications.

A total of 134 distal radius fractures (86 trauma and 48 hand) were included with a mean follow-up of 5.8 and 5.4 months, respectively. No notable differences were found in baseline characteristics or initial injury radiograph measurements except for open injuries and fixation method. The trauma group had significantly more open injuries (20% vs/ 6%, P-value = 0.03) and used a volar plate alone (74% vs. 65%, P-value = 0.01) more than the hand group. No differences were found in unplanned revision surgeries between the trauma (10%) and hand (13%) surgeons. A significant difference was found in final radiograph measurements in radial inclination (21.9 vs/ 19.5, P-value = 0.04) and radial height (11.5 vs/ 9.9, P-value = 0.05) for the trauma and hand groups, respectively. No differences were found in any of the other complications recorded for the trauma and hand groups: nonunion (1% vs 2%), superficial infection (5% vs. 6%), deep infection (2% vs. 0%), chronic pain (20% vs. 27%), and tendon rupture (1% vs. 0%).

No notable differences were found in unplanned revision surgeries or complications in surgically treated distal radius fractures between fellowship-trained trauma versus hand surgeons.