What is an osteoporotic fracture of the distal radius (wrist joint)

    Fractures are the most serious complication of osteoporosis. In the United States, approximately 1.5 million osteoporotic patients suffer fractures each year, including about 250,000 wrist fractures, second only to spinal compression fractures and hip fractures. The distal radius is a cancellous bone structure, and when osteoporosis occurs, minor external forces can cause severe comminuted fractures, most of which involve the radial carpal articular surface, resulting in loss of wrist joint stability. Therefore, complex distal radius fractures are difficult to maintain good repositioning with conventional external fixation, and often suffer from complications such as wrist pain and dysfunction secondary to uneven articular surfaces, shortening of the distal radius, and reduction of ulnar declination and palmar inclination angles. In recent years, wrist dysfunction caused by unstable fractures of the distal radius has gradually received attention. The ideal treatment requires complete restoration of the normal anatomical relationship of the wrist joint, effective and strong fixation, and early movement. Surgery is the best method to obtain precise repositioning of the bony structures of the distal radius, which can restore the integrity of the radial carpal articular surface under direct vision and restore the length of the distal radius, thus restoring the normal anatomic relationship between the radial carpal joint, the inferior ulnar radial joint, and the ulnar carpal joint. For those with good bone condition, incisional repositioning of common T-plate internal fixation can obtain stable fixation with good clinical results. However, in severe osteoporosis, the normal plate fixation is sometimes difficult to work, and the screw is often cut, resulting in the failure of the whole fixation. Even in severe osteoporotic fractures, strong internal fixation can still be obtained.  The underlying cause of distal radius fractures in the elderly is osteoporosis. Patients with fractures require bed rest and the affected limb is braked. At this time, bone resorption rises rapidly, osteogenesis is inhibited, and bone calcium is lost at a rate of 150-200 mg/d. The weekly loss of bone calcium accounts for about 1% of the total body bone mass, and bone mineral density can drop to 29%-36%. Limb braking further aggravates osteoporosis, forming a vicious circle, and even re-fracture occurs. Therefore, breaking the vicious circle of osteoporosis-fracture-osteoporosis is of great significance in the treatment of severe osteoporotic fractures in the elderly. The T-LCP, as an internal fixation brace, has a strong fracture fixation and angular stability, allowing early functional exercise, reducing the degree of osteoporosis due to long-term fixation, and minimizing the stiffness of the wrist joint, so that elderly patients with distal radius fractures can have good wrist function. The patient’s wrist joint function has been well rehabilitated.