Since assuming the co-editorship of the Journal,
nearly every issue has contained at least one article
presenting the techniques of application of new tech-
nology in the management of fractures of the distal end
of the radius. Needless to say, all offer unique and
potential improvements in achieving successful out-
comes of these commonplace but troubling injuries. We
usually see the results of these technologies, both in the
articles as well as in presentations in meetings and
workshops, accompanied by clinical pictures of smiling
patients demonstrating full restoration of wrist and
forearm motion. Perhaps in part a result of our
profession’s tendency to such enthusiasm, patients’
expectations for a full functional result devoid of
complications has followed. As recently related to me
by an attorney who defends physicians in malpractice
litigation, the distal radius is becoming a more common
source of patient dissatisfaction and he suggested the
perhaps the Orthopaedic specialty may have
Braised the
bar too high
^
for outcome expectations