Translated Article DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURES AND CONCOMITANT INJURIES: EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES CONCERNING PATHOMECHANISMS

Since Colles ’ description of the distal radius fracture (1814) and the publication by Dupuytren (1834), the frequency of this fracture, and the problems associated with it, have been increasingly recognized. Not only the treatment but also the mechanism of injury of the different types of fracture have been analysed repeatedly. The various theories concerning the pathomechanism have led to names such as ‘‘sprain fracture’’, ‘‘bent fracture’’, ‘‘thrust fracture’’, ‘‘compression fracture’’, ‘‘snap fracture’ ’ and others. In our experimental studies, we attempted to simulate the pathomechanics of distal radius fractures, and to represent it illustratively. With the aid of a materials testing machine, 63 prepared cadaver parts were hyperextended at the wrist joint until distal radial fracture occurred. Accompanying injuries were identified radiologically and by dissection. Furthermore, the cadaver parts were deep-frozen and examined by means of computer tomography and cryo-section, using Kathrein’s method. Through experimental hyperextension, it was possible to generate dorsal, central and palmar types of fracture. We produced 42 dorsal, 14 central and seven palmar fractures. The extent to which the carpal bones of the proximal row were pressed against the dorsal or palmar edge; or th