# RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURES

## TL;DR

This study examines how radiographic parameters of wrist fractures change over time in patients receiving non-surgical treatment.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into the stability of radiographic parameters in conservatively treated distal radius fractures.

## Key findings

- Volar tilt improved after treatment and remained stable until the final visit.
- Radial inclination and height initially improved but regressed by the final evaluation.
- Stable fractures showed favorable outcomes with conservative therapy.

## Abstract

This article aims to evaluate the evolution of radio-graphic parameters (radial tilt, volar tilt, and radial height) of distal radius fractures in patients indicated for conservative treatment at three different times: date of diagnosis, first outpatient visit within 2 weeks after closed reduction, and last outpatient visit.

We included 84 patients seen at the emergency department of Hospital Municipal Odilon Behrens, with a diagnosis of distal radius fracture and an indication for conservative treatment. We considered only those patients who had serial radiographs taken at least three different times (n=69) in this analysis.

There was an improvement in radiographic parameters of volar tilt after closed reduction and immobilization, which was maintained until the last outpatient visit. Radial inclination and radial height showed increased values from the first to the second radiographic evaluation and both values had regression when comparing the second to the third (last) evaluation.

Universal classification stable fractures tend to evolve well with conservative therapy.
Level of Evidence II; Development of Diagnostic Criteria in Consecutive Patients (with Gold Standard of Reference Applied).