Should anatomic reduction be pursued in distal radial fractures?

Two articles on distal radial fractures in young adults are published in th is issue of the journal. One reports the results of open reduction and inte rnal fixation with the pi -plate in a group of patients in which the majori ty of fractures were complex and intraarticular. The other retrospectively assessed 169 fractures with an average follow-up of 4.9 years, based on the radiographic evaluation of the patient's X-rays until discharge and on the answers provided by a patient-based subjective outcome questionnaire. My t ask has been to comment, criticise and analyse the findings and results rep orted in both articles, in order to highlight areas of uncertainty and cont roversy regarding the current management of fractures of the distal radius in the younger age group.