OBJECTIVETo analyze the of risk factors of radius shortening in adult with distal radius fracture after conservative treatment by Logistic analysis.

METHODSFrom May 2009 to March 2015, 137 adults patients with distal radius fracture treated by conservative treatment were retrospective analyzed, and 36 patients occurred radius shortening, including 7 males and 29 females with an average age of (58.33±14.06) years old, 8 patients were type A, 34 patients were type B and 12 patients were type C according to fracture classification; 101 patients were without radius shortening, including 23 males and 78 females with an average age of (52.49±12.79) years old, 48 patients were type A, 34 patients were type B and 19 patients were type C according to fracture classification. Ages, gender, BMI , time from injuries to reduction, fracture classification, fixed form and loading time were collected and screened risk factors by Logistic analysis.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 8 to 16 months. Ages, time from injuries to reduction, fracture classification, earlier loading could obviously affect radius shortening by univariate analysis, multivariate logistic analysis revealed the risk factor including ages [=1.045(1.008-1.083),=0.015], time from injury to reduction[=2.853(1.178-6.909),=0.020], fracture classification(Type C fracture was more relevant to radius shortening than other two type fractures)[=4.854(1.506-15.640),=0.008], and earlier loading[=3.038(1.138-8.111),=0.027].

CONCLUSIONSAges, time from injury to reduction, fracture classification, and earlier load are the risk factors of radius shortening, so corresponding preventive measures and appropriate treatment should be applied to according to different risk factor.