• Brent R DeGeorge, Holly K Van Houten, Raphael Mwangi, R SangaralinghamLindseyLRobert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.OptumLabs, Cambridge, MA, USA., and Sanjeev Kakar.
• Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
• J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2021 Feb 1; 46 (2): 159-166.

AbstractTo compare the outcomes of non-operative versus operative treatment for distal radius fractures in patients aged from 18 to 64 years, we performed a retrospective analysis using the OptumLabs® Data Warehouse using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis codes of distal radius fracture. Of the 34,184 distal radius fractures analysed, 11,731 (34%) underwent operative management. Short-term complications within 90 days of fracture identified an overall complication rate of 16.6 per 1000 fractures and the 1-year upper extremity-specific complication rate was 287 per 1000 fractures. Overall, post-injury stiffness was the most common 1-year upper extremity-specific complication and was associated with operative management (202.8 vs. 123.4 per 1000 fractures, operative vs. non-operative, p < 0.01). Secondary procedures were significantly more common following non-operative management (8.7% vs. 43%, operative vs. non-operative, p < 0.01) with carpal tunnel release representing the most common secondary procedure. Operative management of distal radius fractures resulted in significantly fewer secondary procedures at the expense of increased overall 1-year complication rates, specifically stiffness.Level of evidence: III.

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