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What Is Distal Radius Osteotomy?

Distal radius osteotomy is surgery to cut and realign the radius near the wrist. It is commonly used when a wrist fracture has healed in a position that causes pain or limits function. The corrected bone is held in place while it heals.

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What Is Distal Radius Osteotomy?

Distal radius osteotomy is surgery to cut and realign the radius near the wrist. It is commonly used when a wrist fracture has healed in a position that causes pain or limits function. The corrected bone is held in place while it heals.

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Why Is Distal Radius Osteotomy Performed?

A poorly healed distal radius fracture can change wrist alignment and make gripping or rotation painful. A surgeon may consider an osteotomy when symptoms persist and imaging shows a correctable deformity. The goal is to improve alignment, comfort, and use of the hand.

How Is the Wrist Bone Corrected?

The surgeon makes a planned cut in the radius and moves the bone into a better position. A plate and screws usually hold the correction in place. A bone graft may be used if the realignment leaves a gap.

What Happens During Recovery?

The wrist may be protected in a splint or cast while the bone heals. Follow-up imaging checks the position of the bone and the progress of healing. Hand therapy can help restore movement and strength when the surgeon permits it.

What Are the Risks?

Possible problems include infection, stiffness, and irritation from the hardware. The bone may heal slowly or fail to unite. Nerves or tendons can also be injured, and surgery may not remove every symptom.

Frequently Asked Questions About Distal Radius Osteotomy

Is distal radius osteotomy the same as fixing a new fracture?

No. An osteotomy makes a planned cut to correct bone alignment, frequently after a fracture has already healed incorrectly.

Does the procedure replace the wrist joint?

No. The surgeon repositions the radius while preserving the wrist joint.

Is a bone graft always needed?

No. The need for a graft depends on the size of the gap and the planned correction.

Will wrist movement improve afterward?

Movement may improve as the bone heals and rehabilitation progresses. The result depends on factors such as joint damage and stiffness present before surgery.

References

Best Approaches in Distal Radius Fracture Malunions. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6542911/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.

Complications of Corrective Osteotomies for Extra-Articular Distal Radius Malunion. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0363502317316180. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.

Current Concepts: Corrective Osteotomy for Extra-Articular Deformity Following a Distal Radius Fracture. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10642188/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.

Malunited extra-articular distal radius fractures: corrective osteotomies using volar locking plate. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4244554/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.

Risk Factors for Distal Radius Osteotomy Nonunion. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34644265/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.