Distal Radius Fractures in the Elderly

A 72-year-old, active, healthy woman fell onto her outstretched dominant right hand. The wrist was swollen and painful to move. Radiographs demonstrated a displaced intra-articular fracture of the distal radius. After hematoma block, manipulative reduction, and orthotic immobilization, radiographs demonstrate a residual radiocarpal articular stepoff of 2 mm with 10° dorsal angulation of the articular surface on the lateral radiograph.