Skeletally mature patients with bilateral distal radius fractures have more associated injuries

Abstract

Bilateral distal radius fractures are rare injuries and only a handful of case reports exist. Understanding the demographic variables and associated injuries in patients with these fractures may improve awareness and treatment of concomitant injuries. We determined the differences in mode of trauma and associated injuries between skeletally mature and skeletally immature patients with bilateral distal radius fractures. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 93 patients with bilateral distal radius fractures. We compared demographic data, fracture patterns, mode of injury, treatment modality, and associated injuries for skeletally mature and immature patients. The mean age of all patients sustaining a bilateral injury was 22.5 years and 61 (71%) were male. Of the 51 (55%) skeletally immature patients, 37 (73%) were male, and 44 (86%) sustained a low-energy mechanism of injury. Of the 42 (45%) skeletally mature patients, 29 (69%) were male, and 37 (88%) sustained a high-energy mechanism of injury. Skeletally mature patients had a 38% rate of associated injuries versus 4% found in skeletally immature patients. Skeletally mature patients sustained bilateral distal radius fractures through higher-energy mechanisms and presented with more frequent associated injuries compared with the skeletally immature patients.