Association of dorsal malunion in distal radius fractures with wrist osteoarthritis: Alterations of bone density and stress-distribution patterns in relation to deformation angles

Objective: Distal radius fractures (DRFs) with dorsal malunion increase the risk of osteoarthritis (OA), although the cause of post-DRF OA is yet to be elucidated. To clarify the abnormal effects of a post-DRF dorsal radius deformity, we evaluated the bone density (BD) and stress-distribution patterns of the articular surface in dorsally malunited DRFs.

Design: In 36 cases of dorsally malunited DRFs following extra-articular fractures, we generated three-dimensional computerized models of the malunited distal radius from computed tomography data and extracted the subchondral bones of the radiocarpal joint (RCJ) and distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ). Both BD and stress distribution in the subchondral bones were quantitatively evaluated by comparing the affected and normal sides. Correlations of alterations in high-BD distribution and deformation angles were analyzed.

Results: The center of high-BD distribution from the center of the RCJ in the volar(-)-dorsal(+) direction was dorsal (0.56 ± 0.72 mm) on the affected side compared with the normal side (-0.15 ± 0.63 mm) [95% CI: 0.43, 1.00, P < 0.0001]. The maximum stress distribution was also dorsal on the affected side (2.34 ± 3.52 mm) compared with the normal side (-2.49 ± 1.62 mm) [95% CI: 0.89, 1.79, P < 0.0001]. The alterations in BD and stress distribution correlated with the dorsiflexion and radial deviation angles. In the DRUJ, there was no significant difference in BD between the affected and normal sides.

Conclusions: In dorsally malunited DRFs, the alignment change of the RCJ resulted in high BD-concentration areas and stress distribution on the dorsal side of the radius, which may constitute a precursor for OA.