Predictors of Instability and Secondary Displacement After Conservatively Managed Distal Radius Fractures

Abstract This chapter summarizes the seminal literature relating to factors that increase the risk of distal radius fracture instability and secondary displacement. The currently available evidence indicates that increasing age and the presence of dorsal comminution are strongly predictive of secondary displacement. Several other risk factors have also been proposed and are in common use in clinical practice, but, perhaps surprisingly, none has been shown conclusively to be predictive of displacement. A classification or clinical prediction model would be useful for risk stratification and allow management to be informed and tailored to individual patient and injury factors.