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Epidemiology, classification, treatment and mortality of distal radius fractures in adults: an observational study of 23,394 fractures from the national Swedish fracture register

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Paper Summary

Paperzilla title
Elderly Women and Broken Wrists: A Simple Fall's Big Impact

Distal radius fractures (DRFs) predominantly affect elderly women (≥50 years) due to low-energy simple falls, often occurring at home. Most DRFs are extra-articular and treated non-surgically, but surgical treatment is increasing, especially for intra-articular fractures, with plate fixation being the most common method.

Explain Like I'm Five

Scientists found that older ladies often break their wrists when they fall at home. Most of these breaks get better with just a cast, but sometimes doctors do surgery if the break is tricky.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Limitations

Incomplete national coverage
The lack of full national coverage in the SFR prevents the calculation of incidence rates and limits the generalizability of the findings.
Lack of validation for DRF classification
The absence of validation for the specific DRF classification within the SFR raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the fracture classifications used in the study.

Rating Explanation

This is a large-scale, nationwide observational study providing valuable insights into distal radius fractures. Despite some limitations, including incomplete national coverage and lack of specific DRF classification validation, the study's strengths, such as its size, detailed data collection, and recent timeframe, contribute to a rating of 4.

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Topic Hierarchy

Domain: Health Sciences
Field: Medicine
Subfield: Surgery

File Information

Original Title: Epidemiology, classification, treatment and mortality of distal radius fractures in adults: an observational study of 23,394 fractures from the national Swedish fracture register
Uploaded: July 14, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Privacy: Public