To report the effects of surgical treatment of old die-punch fractures of the distal radius.

A retrospective study of case series was made of the 21 old die-punch fractures of the distal radius which had been surgically treated from January 2012 to January 2017 at Department of Orthopaedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital. There were 13 males and 8 females, aged from 34 to 63 years (average, 46.9 years). According to the preoperative definite diagnoses by the X-ray and CT images, there were 14 metacarpal compression fractures and 7 dorsal compression fractures. The palmar approach was used in 13 cases, the dorsal approach in 7 and the combined approach in one. Autogenous iliac bone grafting was performed for all the cases. Their preoperative and postoperative Cooney scoring and visual analogue scale (VAS) of the wrist, and postoperative complications as well, were observed and recorded.

This cohort was followed up for 8 to 14 months (average, 9.2 months). All their postoperative wounds healed by the first intention. Their Cooney functional scores of the wrist were, respectively, 58.5±4.2 and 84.0±3.1 points preoperatively and at the final follow-up, and their corresponding VAS scores 7.6±0.9 and 3.4±1.3 points, showing significant differences between preoperation and the final follow-up (P<0.05). Carpal arthritis was observed in one case.

For old die-punch fractures of the distal radius, surgical treatment can obviously reduce pain, improve function of the wrist and enhance the quality of life of the patients.

Wrist joint; Fracture fixation, internal; Range of motion, articular; Die-punch fractures