A meta-analysis of the literature on distal radius fractures: review of 615 articles.

A structured meta-analysis of the available literature was performed to evaluate the outcome of the treatment of displaced intra-articular fractures of the distal radius. A comprehensive search of Medline using the key words "radius" and "fracture" revealed over 4,000 articles. After limiting the search to clinical trials in English and excluding pediatric and geriatric age groups as well as biomechanical and animal studies, 615 abstracts were identified in the period from 1976 to May 1998.