AbstractAim: The aim of the present study to assess factors associated with the incidence of radiocarpal stiffnessfollowing management of distal radius fractures surgically.Material & Methods: This study reviewed a series of patients who suffered from DRFs at Department ofOrthopedics. The inclusion criteria were adult patients with closed DRFs confirmed by x-ray test or computedtomography (CT) scan and underwent surgical treatment with volar locking plate fixation. A total of 150patients who underwent distal radius volar locking plate fixation were included in the current study.Results: Among these patients, 40 (26.66%) were male, and 110 (73.33%) were female. The mean age at thetime of surgery was 54.6 ± 10.6 with stiffness and 52.8 ± 9.1 without stiffness. Preoperative swelling was consideredto be slight in 57 patients (38%) and was severe in 93 patients (62%). Extra-articular fractures were seen in 30patients (20%), and intra-articular fractures were in 120 patients (80%). During surgery, 78 fractures (52%)were fixed with plate only, and the other 72 fractures (48%) were fixed with plate and Kirschner wire. Theincidence of RJS, we found that age, preoperative swelling, types of internal fixation, fracture type, postoperative volar tile and improper rehabilitation exercise were potential risk factors, while gender, BMI, historyof smoking or alcohol, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, dominant hand, time from injury to operation, ulnarstyloid process fracture, post-operative radial inclination, post- operative ulnar variance, assisted cast or splintfixation, postoperative infection, or removal of internal fixation was not. In the further multivariate logisticregression analysis, intra-articular fracture, pre-operative severe swelling, post-operative unsatisfied volar tileand improper rehabilitation exercise were demonstrated to be associated with the incidence of RJS duringfollow-up.Conclusion: Factors such as intra-articular extension, preoperative severe swelling, use of additional k-wire,unsatisfied volar tilt, improper rehabilitation is associated with a higher incidence of radiocarpal joint stiffnessin patients with distal radius fracture. Re-operative risk notification and postoperative precautions are necessaryfor relevant patients

AbstractAim: The aim of the present study to assess factors associated with the incidence of radiocarpal stiffnessfollowing management of distal radius fractures surgically.Material & Methods: This study reviewed a series of patients who suffered from DRFs at Department ofOrthopedics. The inclusion criteria were adult patients with closed DRFs confirmed by x-ray test or computedtomography (CT) scan and underwent surgical treatment with volar locking plate fixation. A total of 150patients who underwent distal radius volar locking plate fixation were included in the current study.Results: Among these patients, 40 (26.66%) were male, and 110 (73.33%) were female. The mean age at thetime of surgery was 54.6 ± 10.6 with stiffness and 52.8 ± 9.1 without stiffness. Preoperative swelling was consideredto be slight in 57 patients (38%) and was severe in 93 patients (62%). Extra-articular fractures were seen in 30patients (20%), and intra-articular fractures were in 120 patients (80%). During surgery, 78 fractures (52%)were fixed with plate only, and the other 72 fractures (48%) were fixed with plate and Kirschner wire. Theincidence of RJS, we found that age, preoperative swelling, types of internal fixation, fracture type, postoperative volar tile and improper rehabilitation exercise were potential risk factors, while gender, BMI, historyof smoking or alcohol, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, dominant hand, time from injury to operation, ulnarstyloid process fracture, post-operative radial inclination, post- operative ulnar variance, assisted cast or splintfixation, postoperative infection, or removal of internal fixation was not. In the further multivariate logisticregression analysis, intra-articular fracture, pre-operative severe swelling, post-operative unsatisfied volar tileand improper rehabilitation exercise were demonstrated to be associated with the incidence of RJS duringfollow-up.Conclusion: Factors such as intra-articular extension, preoperative severe swelling, use of additional k-wire,unsatisfied volar tilt, improper rehabilitation is associated with a higher incidence of radiocarpal joint stiffnessin patients with distal radius fracture. Re-operative risk notification and postoperative precautions are necessaryfor relevant patients