Epidemiology

The total number of distal radius fractures occurring annually in the US is estimated at between 150,000 and 200,000.[7] A study in the US estimates that the incidence of distal radius fractures is 25.4 per 10,000 person-years in women over the age of 65 years.[8]

One prospective multicenter study in the UK reported that the incidence of distal radius fractures is 36.8/10,000 person-years in women and 9.0/10,000 person-years in men over 35 years of age.[9] Another prospective study in the UK reported the incidence of distal radial fractures as 127.9 per 100,000 person-years for all patients, 83.3 per 100,000 person-years for patients under 50 years, and 184.7 per 100,000 person-years for patients over the age of 50 years.[10] For women of any age, the study reported the incidence as 170.2, and for men of any age as 83.9 per 100,000 person-years.[10]

Distal radial fractures have a bimodal distribution in the population.[1][11]

Women with osteoporosis, in their sixth or seventh decade of life, represent the most predominant group, typically having sustained the fracture after a fall from a standing height.[1][12][13] These are largely considered low-energy injuries, and the male-to-female ratio is 1:4.[14]

Young men in their second and third decades of life form the second most predominant group. This population is very different, as they have denser bone, and injuries are typically associated with high-energy mechanisms.[11][14][15]

Risk factors

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trauma

Wrist fractures are almost always as a result of trauma, although in rare situations, patients with osteoporosis are known to develop atraumatic insufficiency fractures.[16]

osteoporosis

Osteopenia is associated with a higher risk for a distal radial fracture.[17][18][19]

Increasing data show that in osteopenic older adults, a prior wrist fracture has a well-defined relationship with an osteoporotic fracture in other locations. Furthermore, in patients with a wrist fracture, the risk of a hip fracture increases 1.4- to 1.8-fold in women and 2.3- to 2.7-fold in men.[20][21][22]

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