Distal radius fractures--systematic review.

Distal radius fractures are an increasingly prevalent upper extremity injury, especially among elderly patients. They represent approximately 3% of all upper extremity injures. Severity of these fractures is directly related to bone mineral density of the patient, and clinical results are dependent on this parameter as well. There is a bimodal distribution of these injuries, with a peak between 18 to 25 years of age, predominantly male population and a second peak in the elderly, older than 65 years, predominantly female population. Early reports of fractures of the distal radius considered these fractures to be group of injuries with a relatively good prognosis irrespective of the treatment given. When it comes to complex fractures, regardless of the method applied, major or minor functional invalidity persists. With that in mind fractures of the distal radius are medical, social and economic problems of modern society.