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Smith’s and Volar Barton’s Fractures

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Management of Fractures in Severely Osteoporotic Bone

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Abstract

Fractures of the distal radius are common. Epidemiological studies have identified the largest at-risk population to be older women [1]. A smaller but also large at-risk population is older men. The two populations begin to appear more similar as age increases. It has been speculated that this age-related change is related to bone density [2–5]. Multiple articles have examined the issue of bone density in the distal radius as regards fracture risk and it is clear that at least three issues are present: (1) diminishing absolute bone mineral density, (2) changing likelihood of “falling” due to changes in coordination and strength, (3) changes in geometric measurements of the cortical outline. It has been demonstrated that the first two of these three variables may be subject to manipulation [6]. Nevertheless, it seems likely that the number of fractures occurring in the distal radius will continue to increase as the number of older adults increases. Because of the associated age related osteoporosis, the relative complexity of this problem may increase.

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Authors
  1. M. D. Putnam
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Orthopaedics, Malmö University Hospital, S-205 02, Malmö, Sweden

    Karl Obrant (Professor of Orthopaedics, Head) (Professor of Orthopaedics, Head)

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag London

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Putnam, M.D. (2000). Smith’s and Volar Barton’s Fractures. In: Obrant, K. (eds) Management of Fractures in Severely Osteoporotic Bone. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3825-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3825-9_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84996-855-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3825-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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