Distal radius fractures (DRF) are very common injuries. National recommendations (British Orthopaedic Association, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)) exist in the UK to guide the management of these injuries. These guidelines provide recommendations about several aspects of care including which type of injuries to treat non-operatively and surgically, timing of surgery and routine follow-up. In particular, current recommendations include considering immobilizing patients for 4 weeks in plaster for those managed conservatively, and operating on fractures within 72 hours for intra-articular injuries and 7 days for extra-articular fractures. With increased demands for services and an ageing population, prompt surgery for those presenting with distal radius fractures is not always possible. A key factor is the need for prompt surgery for hip fracture patients. This study is an audit of the current standard of care at a busy level 2 trauma unit against national guidelines for the management of DRFs. This retrospective audit includes all patients presenting to our emergency department from June to September 2018. Patients over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of a closed distal radius fracture and follow-up in our department were included in the study. Those with open fractures were excluded. Data was retrieved from clinical coding, electronic patient records, and IMPAX Client (Picture archiving and communication system). The following data was collected on patients treated conservatively and those managed surgically:- (1)Time to surgery for surgical management; (2)Period of immobilization for both conservative and operative groups. 45 patients (13 male, 32 female) with 49 distal radius fractures (2 patients had bilateral injuries) were included. Patients had mean age 63 years (range 19 to 92 years) 30 wrists were treated non-operatively and 19 wrists treated surgically (8 K-wires, 10 ORIF, 1 MUA). Mean time to surgery in the operative group was 8 days (range 1 – 21 days, median 7 days). Mean time to surgery for intra-articular fractures was 7 days (range 1 – 21) and 12 days for extra-articular fractures (range 4 – 20). Mean immobilization period in those treated in plaster is 6 weeks (range 4 – 13 weeks, median 5.6 weeks). At busy level 2 trauma units with limited theatre capacity and a high volume of hip fracture admissions, time to surgery for less urgent injuries such as wrist fractures is often delayed. National guidelines are useful in helping to guide management however their standards are often difficult to achieve in the context of increasing populations in urban areas and an ageing population

Introduction and Objective. Wide awake local anaesthetic no tourniquet (WALANT) is being used for a wide variety of hand and wrist surgery. It has recently been used in distal radius fracture fixation. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of the WALANT technique in open reduction internal fixation. Materials and Methods. Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched on 02/03/21 with the following search terms: radius, WALANT, local anesthetic, wide awake surgery. The primary outcome measure was conversion to general anaesthetic and mean intra-operative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores. Secondary measures were operative times, mean intraoperative blood loss, post-operative functional and radiological outcomes. Results. 110 articles were identified; eight studies were deemed eligible with 212 in the WALANT group and 247 in the comparative groups of regional anaesthesia and general Anaesthesia (GA). Two patients in the WALANT group required conversion to general anaesthesia due to anxiety rather than pain. Intra-operative VAS pain scores in the WALANT and regional anaesthetic group were 1.75 and 2.86 respectively (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in Q-DASH scores, range of motion or radiological outcomes. There was a slight increase in mean blood loss in the WALANT group compared with those given a GA or regional anaesthetic with tourniquet (22.5ml vs 12.15ml, p<0.001). Conclusions. The WALANT technique is a viable option for anaesthetic when performing distal radius fracture fixation. It is well tolerated, giving similar post-operative outcomes to other anaesthetic methods. It is a potentially useful technique in a centre with an underresourced anaesthetic department or for patients who may not tolerate regional and general anaesthetic methods. Adequate patient counselling prior to the procedure should be performed with appropriate patient selection

Introduction. Shared decision making (SDM) was introduced in hospital Lillebelt in 2019 and research reports that patients are more satisfied with their treatment, if they play an active role in choosing treatment. A Decision-Helper was constructed and introduced in the treatment for Colles fractures. This study aimed to understand how patients experience shared decision-making (SDM) for an acute illness, and how it affects them when making decisions about the treatment of their distal radius fracture. Method. An exploratory, qualitative study design was performed to understand the patient's experience, during the choice of treatment with SDM. 12 were recruited when they came to their first follow-up 5 days after the injury, in the outpatient clinic. 10 were interviewed; 3 face to face and 7 by telephone. All women aged 57-87 years and all had a displaced Colles fracture, which had been reduced in the Emergency Room. Result. Analyzing the interviews three themes emerged: 1) Acute situation. Patients was positive towards SDM, but found it demanding to participate in. Patients was still in crisis, 5 days after suffering from a fracture. Patients were unable to remember the information given in the ER, regarding the use of the Decision helper. Few had prepared themselves for the consult in the outpatient clinic. 2) Influence on treatment choice. It was unclear to the majority of patients, that cast or surgery, resulted in similar clinical outcomes. 3) The treatment decision was based on personal factors, more than the information received during the consult. Conclusion. Patients wants to be included in the treatment decision. It is important to highlight that booth treatments are equal in clinical outcome, before introducing the Decision-Helper. The doctor´s demeanor is of great importance to the patient's experience. Introducing SDM in the clinical setting requires training and repeated observations, to succeed

Summary. Practitioners should maintain a high suspicion of concurrent carpal fractures in patients who present with a distal radius fracture after a fall onto an outstretched hand, particularly if forearm rotation is involved. Introduction. Simultaneous scaphoid and distal radius fractures, and the importance of their identification, have been previously described in multiple reports. However, few studies have investigated the incidence of carpal fractures, in general, occurring concurrently with distal radius fractures after a common mechanism of wrist injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence and characteristics of carpal fractures occurring simultaneously with distal radius fractures after a fall onto an outstretched hand. We hope to determine whether different fall parameters, such as hand position and forearm rotation, influence the frequency of this injury. Methods. Baseline MRI scans and fluoroscopic images of the wrist were obtained for two sets of 24 fresh frozen cadaveric arms. All of the arms were transected 18 cm proximal to Lister's tubercle and then mounted at 80° of wrist extension and full pronation. In the first set of 24 arms, eight were mounted perpendicular to the MTS table top, eight were radially deviated 10–15°, and eight were ulnarly deviated 10–15°. In the second set of 24 arms, twelve underwent 5 N-m of external forearm rotation, with six of the arms perpendicular to the MTS table top and the other six ulnarly deviated 10–15°. The last twelve arms underwent 5 N-m of internal forearm rotation, with six of the arms perpendicular to the MTS table top and the other six radially deviated 10–15°. The arms were then loaded on an MTS machine and axially displaced 2.5 cm at a compression rate of 5 cm/sec. Post injury fluoroscopic images and MRI scans of the wrist were obtained and analyzed. The MRI scans were scrutinised by one of us (EAO) – a board certified orthopaedic surgeon. Results. All of the arms sustained a distal radius fracture. Post-stress MRI revealed that 17 (35%) of the wrists also sustained at least one carpal bone fracture. The most common carpal bone injured was the scaphoid, which was fractured in 15 of the 17 arms with concurrent carpal fractures, or 31% of the arms overall. Moreover, lunate fractures were present in 6 of the wrists, triquetral fractures in 4 of the wrists, capitate fractures in 3 of the wrists, and one hamate fracture was present. Of the 17 arms with concurrent fractures, 15 had been subjected to a rotational force during MTS testing. Discussion. The incidence of carpal fractures occurring simultaneously with distal radius fractures after a fall onto an outstretched hand comprised a substantial proportion of the arms examined. While the type of carpal fracture does not appear to correlate with a specific hand position, it is evident that forearm rotation is more likely to result in concomitant injury. Early wrist motion—now the standard of care—after immobilization of a patient with a distal radius fracture may result in non-union if a missed carpal fracture is also present

Background. Volar locking plates have revolutionised the treatment for distal radius fractures. The DVR (Depuy) plate was one of the earliest locking plates which were used and they provided fixed angle fixation. Recently, newer volar locking plates, such as the Aptus (Medartis), have been introduced to the market that allow the placement of independent distal subchondral variable-angle locking screws to better achieve targeted fracture fixation. The aim of our study was to compare the outcomes of DVR and Aptus volar locking plates in the treatment of distal radial fractures. Methods. Details of patients who had undergone open reduction and internal fixation of distal radii from October 2007 to September 2010 were retrieved from theatre records. 60 patients who had undergone stabilisation of distal radius fractures with either DVR (n=30) or Aptus (n=30) plate were included in the study. Results. Mean age of patients undergoing fixation using DVR plate was 56.6 years (n=30) with 22 females and 8 males. Fractures in this group included 20 type 23-C, three type 23-B and seven type 23-A. The patients were followed up for an average of 5.5 months (2-16 months). 3 patients underwent revision of fixation due to malunion (n=1), non-union (n=1) and failure of fixation (n=1). Four patients had reduced movements even after intensive physiotherapy necessitating removal of plate. Mean age of patients undergoing Aptus volar locking plate fixation was 56.38 years (n=30) with 21 females and 9 males. There were 27 type 23-C, two type 23-B and one type 23-A fractures according to AO classification. The patients were followed up for an average of 4.1 months (2-11 months). 2 patients developed complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and 1 patient underwent removal of screws due to late penetration of screws into the joint. Conclusion. Complex and unstable fractures of the distal radius can be optimally managed with volar locking plates. Both systems are user friendly. Aptus plates provide an additional advantage of flexibility in implant positioning and enhanced intra-fragmentary fixation compared to the DVR plate. In our study Aptus plates had lower secondary surgical procedures compared to DVR plates

Osteoporosis is a disease when bone mass and tissue is lost, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and increase susceptibility to develop fracture. The osteoporosis prevalence increases markedly with age, from 2% at 50 years to more than 25% at 80 years. 1. in women. The vast majority of distal radius fractures (DRFs) can be considered fragility fractures. The DRF is usually the first medical presentation of these fractures. With an aging population, all fracture clinics should have embedded screening for bone health and falls risk. DRF is the commonest type of fracture in perimenopausal women and is associated with an increased risk of later non-wrist fracture of up to one in five in the subsequent decade. 2. . According to the national guidelines in managing the fragility fractures of distal radius with regards the bone health review, we, as orthopedic surgeons, are responsible to detect the risky patients, refer them to the responsible team to perform the required investigations and offer the treatment. We reviewed our local database (E-trauma) all cases of fracture distal radius retrospectively during the period from 01/08/2019 to 29/09/2019. We included total of 45 patients who have been managed conservatively and followed up in fracture clinic. Our inclusion criteria was: women aged 65 years and over, men aged 75 years and over with risk factors, patients who are more than 50 years old and sustained low energy trauma whatever the sex is or any patient who has major risk factor (current or frequent recent use of oral or systemic glucocorticoids, untreated premature menopause or previous fragility fracture). We found that 96% of patients were 50 years old or more and 84% of the patients were females. 71% of patients were not referred to Osteoporosis clinic and 11% were already under the orthogeriatric care and 18% only were referred. Out of the 8 referred patients, 3 were referred on 1st appointment, 1 on the 3rd appointment, 1 on discharge from fracture clinic to GP again and 3 were without clear documentation of the time of referral. We concluded that we as trust are not compliant to the national guidelines with regards the osteoporosis review for the DRF as one of the first common presentations of fragility fractures. We also found that the reason for that is that there is no definitive clear pathway for the referral in our local guidelines. We recommended that the Osteoporosis clinic referral form needs to be available in the fracture clinic in an accessible place and needs to be filled by the doctor reviewing the patient in the fracture clinic in the 1st appointment. A liaison nurse also needs to ensure these forms have been filled and sent to the orthogeriatric team. Alternatively, we added a portal on our online database (e-trauma), therefore the patient who fulfils the criteria for bone health review should be referred to the orthogeriatric team to review

Introduction. This study aims to investigate the relationship between ulnar fixation and postoperative satisfaction among patients with distal radius fractures accompanied by ulna styloid fractures, with a particular focus on how sociodemographic factors influence outcomes. Method. A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 120 patients aged 26-53 who underwent surgical treatment for distal radius fractures with concomitant ulna styloid fractures between January 2018 and December 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether ulnar fixation was performed. Sociodemographic data, including age, gender, socioeconomic status, education level, and occupation, were collected. All patients underwent similar physical therapy protocols in the postoperative period, and no complications were observed in any patient. Postoperative satisfaction was assessed using the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores at 6 and 12 months post-surgery. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate the influence of ulnar fixation and sociodemographic factors on patient satisfaction. Result. Patients who underwent ulnar fixation (n=60) reported significantly higher satisfaction levels compared to those who did not (n=60), as evidenced by lower PRWE and DASH scores (p < 0.05). Age, gender, and socioeconomic status were significant predictors of postoperative satisfaction. Younger patients, females, and those with higher socioeconomic status exhibited greater improvements in functional outcomes and satisfaction. However, education level and occupation did not significantly influence satisfaction scores. Conclusion. Ulnar fixation in the surgical treatment of distal radius fractures accompanied by ulna styloid fractures is associated with improved postoperative satisfaction. Sociodemographic factors, particularly age, gender, and socioeconomic status, play a crucial role in patient-reported outcomes. Tailoring postoperative care to address these sociodemographic differences may enhance overall patient satisfaction and recovery

Distal radius fractures are common, particularly in post-menopausal women. Several factors have been identified such as osteopenia and an increased risk of falling. We hypothesised that increased soft tissue padding from muscle and fat in the volar hand may confer an element of protection against fractures more in men than women and more in younger than older patients. The aim of the study was to assess for thenar and hypothenar thickness and assess whether it varies between sexes and changes with age. We retrospectively evaluated hand MRI scans performed for non-acute conditions in adults without previous injury or surgery. Using the Patient Archiving and Communication System (PACS) we measured the distance (mm) from the volar surface of the trapezium to the skin, the hook of the hamate to skin and the pisiform to skin as measures of thenar and hypothenar thickness. We also recorded the sex and age of the subjects. Soft tissue thickness was corrected for hand size by dividing by capitate length which we measured; we have already established this as a surrogate measure of hand size. The scans of 51 men (mean age 35, range 19–66) years and 27 women (mean age 49, range 19–79) years were reviewed. Men had significantly thicker soft tissues compared to women over both the thenar and hypothenar eminences (p=0.0001). Soft tissue thickness did not change significantly with age (p> 0.05). The study confirms a significant difference in volar hand soft tissue thickness between men and women accounting for differences in hand size. Our previous research has shown how we fall onto our outstretched hands in the upper limb falling reflex and we have shown that padding the thenar and hypothenar eminences reduces force transmission to the forearm bones. In theory thicker thenar and hypothenar musculature would help protect against distal radius fractures following a fall on an outstretched hand. The thinner musculature on women may further predispose them to an increased risk of distal radius fractures. Further research is needed to assess for any loss of volar hand soft tissue thickness beyond age 75 years

This study aims to compare the outcomes of Volar locking plating (VLP) versus percutaneous Kirschner wires (K-wire) fixation for surgical management of distal radius fractures. We systematically searched multiple databases, including MEDLINE for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing outcomes of VLP fixation and K-wire for treatment of distal radius fracture in adults. The methodological quality of each study was assessed by the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Patient-reported outcomes, functional outcomes, and complications at 1 year follow up were evaluated. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effects models and results presented as risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence interval (CI). 13 RCTs with 1336 participants met the inclusion criteria. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores were significantly better for VLP fixation (MD= 2.15; 95% CI, 0.56-3.74; P = 0.01; I2=23%). No significant difference between the two procedures for grip strength measured in kilograms (MD= −3.84; 95% CI,-8.42-0.74; P = 0.10; I2=52%) and Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) scores (MD= −0.06; 95% CI,-0.87-0.75; P = 0.89; I2=0%). K-wire treatment yielded significantly improved extension (MD= −4.30; P=0.04) but with no differences in flexion, pronation, supination, and radial deviation (P >0.05). The risk of complications and rate of reoperation were similar for the two procedures (P >0.05). This meta-analysis suggests that VLP fixation improves DASH score at 12 months follow up, however, the difference is small and unlikely to be clinically important. Existing literature does not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate the superiority of either VLP or K-wire treatment in terms of patient-reported outcomes, functional outcomes, and complications

The need to accurately forecast the injury burden has never been higher. With an aging, ever expanding trauma population and less than half of the beds available compared to 1990, the National Health Service (NHS) is stretched to breaking point. 1,2. . We utilised a dataset of 22,585 trauma patients across the four countries of the United Kingdom (UK) admitted to 83 hospitals between 22/08/22 – 16/10/22 to determine whether it is possible to predict the proportionality of injuries treated operatively within orthopaedic departments based on their number of Neck of Femur fracture (NOF) patients. More operations were performed for elderly hip fractures alone than for the combined totals of the next four most common fractures: ankle, distal radius, tibial shaft and forearm (6387 vs 5922). Conversely, 10 out of the 13 fracture types were not encountered by at least one hospital and 93% of hospitals encountered less than 2 fractures of a certain type. 60% trauma is treated within Trauma Units (TUs) however, per unit, Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) treat approximately 43% more patients. After excluding NOF, lower limb fractures accounted for approximately 57% of fractures in all countries and ankle and distal radius fracture combined comprised more than 50% in 74% of regions. The number of hip fractures seen on average by an individual unit remains relatively consistent as does the regional variation of any given fracture; resultantly, it is possible to predict injury proportionality based off a unit's hip fracture numbers. This powerful tool could transform both resource allocation and recruitment

It is known that Osteoporosis is the pathology of bone mass and tissue loss resulting in an increase of fragility, risk of fracture occurrence, and risk of fracture recurrence. We noted there was no definitive pathway in our last audit, therefore recommended: availability of the Osteoporosis clinic referral form in an accessible place, the form be filled by the doctor reviewing the patient in the first fracture clinic, and a liaison nurse to ensure these forms were filled and sent to the Osteoporosis clinic. This second audit analyses our Trust's response to these recommendations and effect achieved in Osteoporosis care. We reviewed our local data base from the 7/27/2020 – 10/2/2021 retrospectively for distal radius fractures who were seen in fracture clinic. We analysed a sample size of 59 patients, excluding patients who had already commenced bone protection medications. 67.7% of our patients had neither been on bone protection medications nor recorded referrals and 13.5% were already on bone protection medications when they sustained the fragility fracture. Ten out of the 51 patients were offered referral to the osteoporosis clinic, and one refused. This makes 20% (10 out of 50) of the patients had completed referrals. In comparison, in our first audit, 11% had already been on bone protection medications and 18% had completed referrals. The second cycle showed a slight increase in compliance. Majority of the referrals were completed by Orthopaedic Consultants in both audits and ana awareness increase noted among non-consultants in starting the referral process. Based on our analysis, our Trust has a slight improvement in commencing bone protection medications, associated with slight improvement in completing referrals to the Osteoporosis clinic. Despite our recommendations in the first audit, there is still no easily accessible definitive pathway to ensure our Trust's patients have timely access to bone protection and continued care at the Osteoporosis clinic. We recommend streamlining our recommendations to have a more effective approach in ensuring our Trust meets national guidelines. We will implement a Yes or No question assessment for patients visiting clinic in our electronic database which should assist in referral completions

Abstract. Objectives. The need to accurately forecast the injury burden has never been higher. With an aging, ever expanding trauma population and less than half of the beds available compared to 1990, the National Health Service (NHS) is stretched to breaking point1,2. Resultantly, we aimed to determine whether it is possible to predict the proportionality of injuries treated operatively within orthopaedic departments based on their number of Neck of Femur fracture (NOF) patients reported both in our study and the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD). Methods. We utilised the ORthopaedic trauma hospital outcomes - Patient operative delays (ORTHOPOD) dataset of 22,585 trauma patients across the four countries of the United Kingdom (UK) admitted to 83 hospitals between 22/08/22 – 16/10/22. This dataset had two arms: arm one was assessing the caseload and theatre capacity, arm two assessed the patient, injury and management demographics. Results. Our results complied with the data reported to the NHFD in over 80% of cases for both the 2022 and five-year average reported numbers. More operations were performed for elderly hip fractures alone than for the combined totals of the next four most common fractures: ankle, distal radius, tibial shaft and forearm (6387 vs 5922). Conversely, 10 out of the 13 fracture types were not encountered by at least one hospital and 93% of hospitals encountered less than 2 fractures of a certain type.60% of trauma is treated within Trauma Units (TUs) however, per unit, Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) treat approximately 43% more patients. Similarly, 11 out of the 14 fracture types examined presented more frequently to a MTC however 3 of the most common fractures had a preponderance for TUs (elderly hip, distal radius and forearm fractures). After excluding NOF, lower limb fractures accounted for approximately 57% of fractures in all countries and ankle and distal radius fracture combined comprised more than 50% in 74% of regions. There were few outliers across the study regarding number of fractures treated by a hospital with tibial shaft fractures demonstrating the highest number of outliers with 4. Conclusions. The number of hip fractures seen on average by an individual unit remains relatively consistent as does the regional variation of any given fracture; resultantly, it is possible to predict injury proportionality based off a unit's hip fracture numbers. This powerful tool could transform both resource allocation and recruitment. Declaration of Interest. (b) declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported:I declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project

Advancements in treating complex distal radius fractures. We will review tips and tricks in the treatment of complex articular distal radius fractures. We will discuss the treatment of carpal instability resulting from fracture of the volar marginal fragment. We will cover optimizing surgical exposure to address fractures extending from the radial styloid to the lunate facet. During this session, we will review the latest techniques for treating these complex distal radius fractures

Background. Distal radius fractures are common injuries but no clear consensus regarding optimal management of unstable fractures exists. Open reduction and internal fixation with volar plates is an increasingly popular but the associated complication rate can be 10%. Intramedullary nails are an alternative offering the potential advantages of reduced risk of tendon injury and intra-articular screw penetration. This article systematically reviews the published literature evaluating the biomechanics, outcomes and complications of intramedullary nails in the management of distal radius fractures. Methods. A systematic review of Medline and EMBASE databases was performed for studies reporting the biomechanics, functional outcome or complications following intramedullary nailing of distal radius fractures. Critical appraisal was performed with respect to validated quality assessment scales. Results. 16 studies were included for review. The biomechanical studies concluded that intramedullary nails had at least comparable strength to locking plates. The clinical studies reported that IM nailing was associated with comparable ROM, functional outcome and grip strength to alternative fixation techniques. However, the mean complication rate was 17.6% (range 0 to 50%) with the most common complication being neurapraxia of the superficial radial nerve in 9.5%. Conclusion. This systematic review of pooled data from published series has shown that IM nailing can give comparable clinical results to current treatment modalities in extra-articular and simple intra-articular distal radius fractures. However the evidence is insufficient to determine whether IM nailing has any clinically important advantage over well-established alternatives. The complication rate reported is higher than that in contemporary studies for volar plating and this raises concerns about the role of this technique particularly when comparative studies have failed to show any major advantage to its use. Further adequately powered RCTs comparing the technique to both volar plates and percutaneous wire fixation are required. Level of evidence. IIa – systematic review of cohort studies. Conflict of Interests. The authors confirm that they have no relevant financial disclosures or conflicts of interest. Ethical approval was not sought as this was a systematic review

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to compare radiographic outcomes of patients treated with dorsal spanning plates with previously reported normal values of radiographic distal radius anatomy and compare the results to prior publications for both external fixation and internal fixation with volar locked plates. Methods. Patients with complex distal radius fractures including dorsal marginal impaction pattern necessitating dorsal distraction plating at the discretion of the senior authors (MAT and MAI) from 5/30/2013 to 12/29/2015 were identified and included in the study. Retrospective chart and radiograph review was performed on nineteen patients, eleven male and eight female, with mean age of 47.83 years (22–82). No patients were excluded from the study. Results. All fractures united prior to plate removal. The average time the plate was in place was 80.5 days (49–129). Follow up radiographs showed average radial inclination of 20.5° (13.2°–25.5°), radial height of 10.7mm (7.5mm–14mm), ulnar variance of −0.3mm (−2.1mm–3.1mm), and volar tilt of 7.9° (−3°–15°). One patient had intra-articular step off >2mm. Conclusion. Dorsal distraction plating of complex distal radius fractures yields good radiographic results with minimal complications. In cases of complex distal radius fractures including dorsal marginal impaction where volar plating is not considered adequate, a dorsal distraction plate should be considered as an alternative to external fixation due to reduced risk for infection and better control of volar tilt. Type of Study/Level of Evidence. Therapeutic Retrospective Level IV

Introduction and Objective. In anticipation of reduced workload and need for minimisation of staff contact with infectious patients during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Cairns Hospital reduced the junior orthopaedic staffing and absolved team structure. Materials and Methods. We performed a retrospective audit of our department's workload during a predetermined three week period during the 2020 lockdown and in 2019. Results. 699 patient referrals from Emergency Department were captured; 358 in 2019 and 341 in 2020, a decrease of 4.7%. The same proportion were admitted (64.5%); similar numbers required operative intervention; 51.7% (2019) vs 50.1% (2020). There was a small reduction in spine and neck of femur fracture presentations (2% and 0.9% respectively). Common presentations such as supracondylar fractures and distal radius fractures remained nearly unchanged (increased 0.7% and 0.2% respectively). Overall, the referred patients’ demographics were essentially unchanged. Department workforce was reduced by 45% (20 vs 11 doctors). Elective operating, excluding category 1, was suspended, resulting in an overall reduction of total admissions and operations by 29.7%. The average length of stay of inpatients increased by 25.3% (2.5 vs 3.16 days). Conclusions. During lockdown, the acute orthopaedic burden remained almost unchanged. Despite a reduction in inpatient patient load, the average length of stay increased. This was multifactorial, including staffing reduction disproportional to workload, loss of team structure and continuity of care, and government enforced restrictions to the Cape York region. This can be used in future for planning the staffing allocation if further lockdowns are enforced during this, or future, pandemic

Advancements in treating complications of operatively treated distal radius fractures. We will review tips and tricks to avoid complications associated with operative fixation of these complicated injuries. We will cover treatment of the distal radioulnar joint, associated distal ulna fracture, complications of malreduction and implant prominence. During this session, we will review the latest techniques for treating these complex distal radius fractures and how to avoid associated complications

In our department, currently there is variation in the number of xrays that patients receive following ORIF of distal radius fractures. This audit investigated the use of xrays following ORIF of distal radius fractures. Patients were identified from daily trauma lists. Patients who had a primary ORIF or ORIF following failed conservative management were included in the study. PACS was used to identify the number of post-operative xrays performed. These were correlated with clinic letters to see if there was any change in management following xray review. Between July and November 2013, 102 patients were admitted with distal radius fracture. Of these, 35 (mean age:51 years) had an ORIF. Four were not followed-up in Scotland. Of the remaining 31 patients, eleven had one post-operative xray, seventeen had two and three had three xrays. Of the patients who had one xray, seven had the xray in the first three weeks, the rest at six weeks. Patients who had two xrays had an xray at two and 6 weeks. Of the three patients who had three xrays, two had comminuted fractures that required further CT investigation, one for a suspicion of an intra-articular screw, the other for possibility of non-union. The third patient had no apparent reason for requiring three xrays. Thus of the 31 patients in the study, 29 did not require any further investigations. The results show a variation in the frequency of post-operative xrays after fixation of distal radius fractures. In most cases the management plan was unchanged after plain xrays were undertaken. This suggests that a protocol driven approach to follow-up after fixation of distal radius fractures could reduce the burden on fracture clinic and radiology departments. We propose that unless indicated by intra-operative findings or post-operative concerns, patients should have xrays at the two week review appointment

Background. Distal radius fractures are among the most common fractures encountered in the clinical setting, with a reported incidence of 17%. Of these common fractures, it has been said 60% are intra-articular in nature. Intra-articular or unstable and comminuted fractures represent severe, high energy injuries. There is a considerable amount of controversy as to which fixation method is superior. Even the OA concludes; “comparing external fixation (EF) with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for the treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures described no consistent benefit of one treatment over another”. There are only a few randomised control trials that go beyond one year to cover the long-term follow up (over two years). There has yet to be a meta-analysis of the long-term outcomes of open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) versus external fixation. We aim to show from this meta-analysis if there is any significant difference in the outcomes of either fixation method in the long-term. Method. We pooled the data of all available randomised control trials that compare the long-term outcomes of ORIF against external fixation of distal radius fractures. We completed a systematic review of PubMed, embase, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library, from inception to December 2014. We then preformed our meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3 software. Results. We did not determine any significant difference in long-term outcomes when comparing ORIF with external fixation. However 6 of the 11 outcomes supported ORIF. Conclusion. There is no significant difference in the long-term outcomes between ORIF and external fixation. No meta analysis to date, short or long term, has been able to determine which is the superior, yet the future treatment of these fractures looks to be ORIF in the form of volar plating. We recommend before this becomes universal, further research must be carried out. Level of Evidence. Level 1. Disclosures. this was the first author's, Dr CJC Gouk, Masters dissertation at the University of Edinburgh. No financial support was received

Smith's fractures generally occur when falling on a flexed wrist; however, orthopedic trauma surgeons often encounter distal radius fractures with volar displacement in patients who have allegedly fallen on the palm of their hands. This study aimed to reveal both the basic and clinical pathogenesis of Smith's fracture through a step-by-step investigation. We enrolled 17 patients with Smith's fractures, of which 71% fell on the palm and only 6% on the dorsum of the hand. First, we interviewed the outpatients to determine the mechanics of the injury and the position of their arm during injury. Second, we created a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model to predict the arm's position when the Smith's fracture occurred, which finite element analysis revealed as a 30° angle between the long axis of the forearm and the ground in the sagittal plane. Third, using this predicted position, we conducted experiments on 10 fresh frozen cadavers to prove the possibility of causing a Smith's fracture by falling on the palm of the hand. The results showed Smith-type fractures in seven of 10 wrists, whereas Colles-type fractures did not occur. Finally, we analyzed stress distribution in the distal radius when a Smith's fracture occurs using the 3D finite element model. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Smith's fractures can also occur by falling on the palm of the hand