Treatment of osteoporotic distal radius fractures

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.