Outcome after corrective osteotomy for malunited fractures of the distal end of the radius.

This retrospective study evaluated the outcome of corrective osteotomy for malunited distal radial fractures and investigated the influence of the radiological result on the clinical outcome. Twenty-nine patients underwent corrective osteotomy for malunited, dorsally tilted fractures of the distal radius and 20 underwent corrective osteotomy for malunited, palmarly angulated distal radial fractures. All were surveyed at an average of 18 months after surgery and assessed for: pain; grip strength; range of motion; radial tilt; radial inclination; and ulnar variance. Postoperative radial tilt, radial inclination and ulnar variance were significantly improved by corrective osteotomy. Patients with no, or only minor residual deformity after corrective osteotomy had significantly better results than those with gross residual deformity. Copyright 2002 The British Society for Surgery of the Hand.