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.

Background: Although distal radius fractures (DRF) are the most common fractures of the human body there is still no consensus concerning the best treatment option, especially for type A fractures. Moreover, studies concerning other anatomic regions could prove that patient age is of high impact on therapy and outcome. Therefore, we have quantified wrist function within a retrospective study design using PROM and we have analysed the influence of age between control and patient collective and young versus 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 with a self-assessment questionnaire the Munich Wrist Questionnaire (MWQ) according to the patient related outcome measurements (PROM). Results: PROM was answered by 110 patients with DRF type A. The average follow-up was 66 months. 110 healthy wrists were the control group and subgroup matching induced similar age group distribution. Hence, 7 individuals < 30 years, 67 between 31 and 64 years, 29 control individuals between 65 and 79 years and 7 control individuals > 80 years, respectively. Women were significantly older than the men (59±15 vs. 47±17).In overall analysis, there was no significant difference between control and patient group (96±6 vs. 95±7). Function was significantly different between control and patient group < 30 years (100±1 vs. 98±2). In the control group the function was significantly decreasing with advanced aging whereas in the patient group this influence was absent. The difference between age group 80 and between 30-64 and 65-79 and >80 was significantly different with increasing age. Conclusion: PROM is a suitable tool for a retrospective study design as numerous patients can be analysed. The influence of age is critical for wrist function. Hence, we therefore strongly suggest that this information should be taken into consideration for future study plans.