[Carpal instability associated with fracture in distal radius].

Among 197 fractures in distal radius, 65 fractures were found accompanied with carpal instability, with an incidence of 32.9 percent. Six patterns of the instability were observed, in which dorsiflexion instability and scapholunate dissociation were predominant. The occurrence and patterns of instability were related to the types of the fractures, curve and palmar tilt angle of the distal radial articular surface. 64.9 percent of the instability was corrected during reduction of the fracture, but 35.1 percent remained. Compared with the fractures without carpal instability, functions of the wrists were worse in the fractures with the instability. The pathogenesis of these injuries and clinical significance of this study were discussed.