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Treatment of osteoporotic distal radius fractures

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Abstract

Fracture of distal radius is most commonly an injury of the fit osteoporotic patient. As the population and health of older individuals continue to expand, osteoporotic distal radius fractures will become increasingly common. While many older patients have limited functional demands and can accept some deformity and wrist dysfunction, others remain very active into older age and desire optimal wrist alignment and function. The difficulty obtaining reliable fixation in osteoporotic bone presents a challenge to the surgeon that has been partially addressed by newer implants with screws that directly engage the plate, creating fixed angle bolts that have better fixation in osteoporotic bone. Decision-making is based upon a balance of the goals of the individual patient with the risks of intervention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA

    David Ring & Jesse B. Jupiter

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Yawkee Center, Suite 2100, Fruit Str., Boston, MA , 02114, USA

    David Ring & Jesse B. Jupiter

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  1. David Ring
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  2. Jesse B. Jupiter
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Correspondence to David Ring.

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Ring, D., Jupiter, J.B. Treatment of osteoporotic distal radius fractures. Osteoporos Int 16 (Suppl 2), S80–S84 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-004-1808-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-004-1808-x

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