[Results and analysis of poor results after conservative therapy of distal radius fracture].

The authors report on the results of a follow-up study of 120 conservatively treated distal radius fractures. Follow-up averaged 35 months (25 to 48 months). The quality of initial reduction has a crucial impact on the final outcome. 87 fractures showed nearly perfect anatomical reduction, of these, 48 resulted in excellent, 16 in good, 15 in satisfactory, and 8 in poor final anatomical outcomes. In comparison, in 33 fractures with unsuccessful initial reduction, only two cases gave excellent and 12 cases good results (42%); 11 fractures were considered satisfactory and 8 poor. The necessity of a second reduction was significantly lower in the first group of initially well-reduced fractures when compared to the second group: 8 (9.2%) to 14 (42.4%) respectively. Evaluation of the functional outcome according to the Sarmiento scheme showed a strong correlation between the AO fracture classification and the final outcome. In group A fractures, 78% gave excellent or good, 22% satisfactory or bad results. Type B fractures gave 82% excellent or good and 18% satisfactory or poor results. In group C, only 50% reached excellent or good results, the C 3 fractures having the worst prognosis, achieving excellent or good results in only 20% of the cases. Regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between anatomical and functional outcome.