Background: Although the most common fracture of the human body, so far, only few data concerning gender-specific outcomes after distal radius fracture exist. Typically, elderly women suffer from DRF due to a low-energy fall because of osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome after a surgically treated intraarticular DRF with the help of patient-reported outcome measurement (PROM) and with special regard to gender and age impact. Patients and methods: It is a retrospective case-control study in which all patients with an intraarticular DRF were enrolled. The control group was composed of healthy volunteers. Munich Wrist Questionnaire (MWQ) was used as Patient Related Outcome Measurement (PROM) for analyzing the outcome. Moreover, age, gender, handedness, fracture classification and follow-up interval were detected. The functional outcome of the fracture group was compared to a healthy control group. Analyses of gender, age and handedness-specific results compared to the healthy control groups were performed as well. Results: 197 patients with distal radius fracture could be enrolled in the study (134 were female and 63 were male). Women (mean age 62 years) were significantly older than men (mean age 50 years). The control group comprised 110 healthy subjects, 71 females (mean age 56 years) and 39 males (mean age 53 years). The whole fracture group had significantly lower MWQ scores compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The male fracture group (90.6 ± 12.4) and the female fracture group (90.8 ± 11.4) had a significantly worse outcome compared to the corresponding control group (p < 0.001 male and p = 0.034 female). Although significantly younger, the male patients had a similar outcome compared to the female patients. Discussion: Even elderly patients can reach the preoperative level after operative treatment of an intraarticular distal radius fracture. Although significantly younger than the female patients, men have significantly worse functional outcomes compared to their control and cannot perform better than the significantly older female patients. Gender might influence the outcome as well; however, age seems to have a greater impact on the outcome than gender.

Introduction: Although distal radius fractures (DRFs) are the most common fractures of the human body, the best treatment for every fracture type is still debatable. However, randomized controlled trials are difficult to perform. The quality of care can be determined primarily in the context of health care research using register studies. Registers enable standardized documentation of clinical observations over time. So far, no German register studies concerning DRFs exist, and therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a register with the help of patient-reported outcome measurements (PROM).Patients and Methods: All patients treated surgically at our hospital with a DRF between 2006 and 2016 were enrolled. Patient data such as epidemiological data, treatment, complications, insurance status, etc. were collected and the register was built up as an in-house fracture register with the help of PROM. The Munich Wrist Questionnaire (MWQ) was used as a PROM tool.Results: Of all 1,796 patients, 339 (19%) with a complete data set could be enrolled, 96 of the patients were male (28%), 243 were female (72%). Thirty-two percent were type A (n = 110), 9% (n = 31) were type B, and 58% (n = 198) were type C fractures. The average follow-up was 66 ± 31 months. Complications occurred in 25 cases (7%). The average postoperative function measured with the MWQ was 91 ± 11%. Patients suffering from a DRF type A had the best outcome. It was significantly better than the outcome of patients with a DRF type C (95 ± 7 vs. 89 ± 13%, p < 0.05 MWUT) and significantly better compared to the results from the whole fracture register (95 ± 7 vs. 91 ± 11%, p < 0.05 MWUT). Type B fractures had a better outcome than type C fractures (92 ± 11%).Conclusions: Retrospective register studies created with the help of PROM have numerous advantages. Data collection is fast, easy and cost-effective and a huge amount of data can be achieved from numerous patients and the observation period after surgery is quite long. The drop-out rate might be high, but patients enrolled are a representative sample compared to the current literature. This is a valuable tool for monitoring of clinical treatment quality.

Introduction: Although distal radius fractures (DRFs) are the most common fractures of the human body, there are still ongoing debates concerning the treatment for type A fractures, especially in elderly patients. In spite of good clinical outcomes, it remains unclear whether elderly patients, especially, could regain the preoperative functional level of the wrist. Therefore, we have quantified wrist function within a retrospective study design using patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) and we have analyzed the influence of age between control and patient collective and young vs. old, respectively.Patients and methods: The retrospective study included all patients with a surgically treated DRF type A and a control group of healthy patients, age and gender matched. The function of the wrist was examined by using a self-assessment questionnaire called the Munich Wrist Questionnaire (MWQ) according to the patient-related outcome measurements PROM.Results: We could enroll 110 patients and controls, and the average follow-up was 66 months. Subgroup matching induced similar age group distribution: in both groups, 7 individuals 80 years, were enrolled, respectively. In the fracture group, women were significantly older than men (59 ± 15 vs. 47 ± 17 (M ± SD). There was no significant difference between the control and the patient groups (96 ± 6 vs. 95 ± 7). The function was significantly different between controls and patients <30 years (100 ± 1 vs. 98 ± 2). In the control group, there was a functional difference in the age group 80 and in the age group 30–64 compared with 65–79 and >80. In the control group, the function was found to be significantly decreasing with advancing age, whereas in the patient group, this influence was absent. A correlation analysis showed a worse function with increasing age in the control group and therefore a negative correlation. In the fracture group, a similar result could not be obtained.Discussion: Age has a relevant influence on wrist function. Although the wrist function decreases significantly with aging, in the patient group, this influence is absent, and the functional results after surgery are excellent. Even elderly patients can regain their preoperative functional level.