Ignore fractures of the ulnar styloid in distal radius fractures

Excerpt

Fractures of the ulnar styloid frequently accompany fractures of the distal radius, however, there is no conclusive evidence whether it influences the final outcome of the treatment. The majority of studies show no negative effect of ulnar styloid fractures on final outcome, when the fracture of the distal radius is fixed, preferably by a locking plate [1, 2]. Some authors, however, report on frequent non-unions of the ulnar styloid, distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUJ) instabilities, triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) tears, and other complications which may cause ulnar wrist pain, reduced mobility and power of the hand [3, 4]. No studies are available that address this issue for K-wire fixation of the distal radius fractures. …