Plate fixation of osteoporotic fractures of the distal radius.

Fractures of the distal radius in patients with osteoporosis constitute a unique challenge for the surgeon. They are by nature most commonly seen in the elderly population. Our understanding of the age, physiology, and functionality of the elderly has evolved considerably over the last two decades. Often these fractures simply affect a patient's already-compromised functional status. However, in active elderly adults they can also substantially reduce the functionality, and this can have a significant impact on their ability to care for themselves, pursue avocational activities, or both. In carefully selected patients, even in the face of osteoporosis, plate fixation of these fractures has satisfying outcomes for both the patient and the surgeon and must be considered part of a surgeon's armamentarium in the contemporary treatment of osteoporotic fractures of the distal radius.