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Malunion of the Distal End of the Radius

  • Chapter
Fractures of the Distal Radius

Abstract

Union with deformity continues to be the most common complication following fracture of the distal end of the radius.7,31,32 Malunion may be extraarticular, characterized by metaphyseal angulation and loss of radial length; intraarticular, involving distortion of the either the radiocarpal or the radioulnar joints or both; or a combination of the two.

Fractures of the radius within two inches of the wrist, where treated by the most eminent surgeons, are of very difficult management so as to avoid all deformity; indeed, more or less deformity may occur under the treatment of the most eminent surgeons, and more or less imperfection in the motion of the wrist or radius is very apt to follow for a longer or shorter time. Even when the fracture is well cured, an anterior prominence at the wrist, or near it, will sometimes result from the swelling of the soft parts.

As the above opinion of Professor Mott coincides with my own observations, both in Europe and in this city, as well as with many of our most distinguished surgical authorities, I venture to hope that it may assist in removing some of the groundless and ill-merited aspersions which are occasionally thrown on the members of our profession by the ignorant or designing. Boston Med. Surg. J. XXV, p. 289

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedische Chirurgie FMH, Switzerland

    Diego L. Fernandez M.D.

  2. Orthopaedic Surgery, Harvard Medical School, USA

    Jesse B. Jupiter M.D. (Associate Professor, Director)

  3. Orthopaedic Hand Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA

    Jesse B. Jupiter M.D. (Associate Professor, Director)

Authors
  1. Diego L. Fernandez M.D.
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  2. Jesse B. Jupiter M.D.
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© 1996 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.

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Fernandez, D.L., Jupiter, J.B. (1996). Malunion of the Distal End of the Radius. In: Fractures of the Distal Radius. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0478-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-0478-4_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-0480-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-0478-4

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