Updates on Distal Radius Fractures Past, Present, and Complications.

Before the 1900s, distal radius fractures were misdiagnosed as radiocarpal dislocations and most were treated nonoperatively. Between the 1900s and 1920s there were several anesthesia and antiseptic advancements that led to the advancement of surgical interventions. Then after the continued use and implementation of radiographs in orthopedics, radiographic parameters allowed for a critical analysis of treatment and patient outcomes that led to the further advancement of distal radius fracture treatment. This review will detail the historical content that led us to current practices. Additionally, current methods are critiqued, and common complications are reviewed in order to allow orthopedic surgeons to avoid these complications today.