[Conservative and surgical treatment of radius fractures loco classico]

More and more distal fractures of the radius are treated surgically, thereby decreasing the treatment time and quickly restoring use of the arm. The rarely seen compound fractures of the radius and those involving circulation problems or loss of feeling in the hand will be treated as emergency cases. The most frequently used treatment is osteosynthesis using pins. In cases of Smith fracture, with young patients or corrective surgery the preferred method is osteosynthesis using metal plates. If, because of extensive fragmentation, a non-operative treatment would certainly lead to dislocation, or a secondary dislocation due to a non-operative treatment has already taken place, the surgical treatment should be discussed. Dislocated intraarticular fractures are increasingly being treated immediately surgically.