Surgeon preferences and educational gaps in the treatment of complex distal radius fractures in Latin America.

PURPOSE: Distal radius fractures are among the most common skeletal injuries, yet their optimal treatment remains controversial. Variability in surgical decision-making has been observed among surgeons. This study aimed to identify treatment preferences among Latin American orthopaedic surgeons with different training backgrounds and levels of experience in the management of complex distal radius fractures.

METHODS: A two-part questionnaire was distributed to orthopaedic and hand surgeons across Latin America. The first section collected demographic data, and the second section presented 7 clinical scenarios involving complex distal radius fractures. Multivariate analysis using multinomial logistic regression was performed to assess the influence of age and fellowship training on treatment decision-making, with results expressed as odds ratios. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: A total of 617 completed questionnaires were analyzed. Most respondents were male orthopaedic surgeons with fellowship training in orthopaedic trauma or hand surgery. Most surgeons reported managing 10-25 distal radius fracture cases annually as the lead surgeon and had access to both anatomical angle-stable volar plates and fragment-specific implants. Older surgeons tended to favor more traditional techniques, whereas those with hand surgery fellowship training were more likely to adopt advanced fixation strategies and a broader range of surgical approaches.

CONCLUSION: Surgeon age and fellowship training in hand surgery were the most influential factors in treatment decision-making for complex distal radius fractures. These findings highlight an opportunity for AO Trauma Latin America to expand educational offerings focused on the treatment of complex distal radius fractures.