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We have reviewed 109 out of 122 operations performed for malunion of the distal radius. An excellent or good result was achieved in 80%, with 3% poor and 7% mediocre. Complications occurred in 12.6%. Accurate assessment of the frontal and sagittal angles of the articular surface of the distal radius was necessary in planning the operation, and correct realignment was required to achieve a proper result. Some cases in which an excellent correction was achieved did not produce a satisfactory outcome because of residual problems with soft tissue or ligaments. No patient with carpal instability had a good result. The morphology of the fracture and the sex or activity level of the patient did not influence the result.

Retrospectively we studied 30 patients with fracture of the proximal femur, who were no less than 75 years old and who died during their hospitalization in the Department of Surgery of the Medical University of Lübeck from 1986 to 1991. Mortality was 6% (30/498). The mean time of death was the 13th day after administration. Nineteen patients have had 1, 7 patients 2 serious preexisting diseases. Twelve patients developed 1, 8 patients 2, and 1 patient 3 serious complications. The high amount of patients (30%, 9/30) who could not be operated reflects the great influence of the trauma itself on the mortality of the old multimorbid surgical patient. Intra-operative complications were seldom (1 pulmonary embolism), postoperative complications, however, were the limiting factors of the course of illness and are associated with a poor outcome.

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