TITLE:
Epidemiology of Distal Radius Fractures in High Complexity Clinic in Colombia, Treatment and Outcomes
AUTHORS:
María Alejandra Suarez, David C. Cardenas, Arevalo Vallejo Hanna Maria, Cobo-Mejía Elisa Andrea, Osma Nicolas, Lafaurie-Bayter Natalia, Andres F. Amador Joven
KEYWORDS:
Distal Radius Fracture, Prevalence, Complications, Treatment, Emergencies
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Orthopedics,
Vol.15 No.4,
April
29,
2025
ABSTRACT: With the purpose of identifying the prevalence of distal radius fractures, their treatment, and comorbidities in patients seen at Clínica Medilaser in Tunja between 2019 and 2021. Methodology: We established a sample of 69 patients who arrived at emergency care services with a diagnosis of distal radius fracture. We conducted a characterization of the population, which we followed with a bivariate analysis of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in relation to complications and clinical outcomes; for those with significant associations, a logistic regression was performed. Results: The prevalence of distal radius fractures in our emergency consulting population was 3.73%, while the prevalence of this fracture among all upper limb fractures was 36.64%. Surgical treatment was preferred in 73.9% of cases, with Kirschner wires being the more commonly used at 43.8%. Only 8.7% of patients required further surgery after an average of 50.5 days, 4.4% experienced infections at the surgical site within the first 30 days, and 14.3% showed strength deficit when compared to the opposite hand. A significant association was found between the need for reoperation and rural origin (p = 0.034) and the combined fixation of Kirschner wires with a palmar plate (p = 0.044). Conclusions: Distal radius fractures at our institution showed a high prevalence with a low complication rate. Furthermore, associations were found between the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the population and the presence of complications and unsatisfactory outcomes.