A 74-year-old @entity1 sustained a @entity174 of the distal radius with an additional @entity174 of the styloid process of the ulna due to a fall. After reduction under local anesthesia immobilization treatment in a forearm cast was initiated. Despite increasing secondary dislocation during radiological x-ray follow-up control, the bone was described as correctly aligned by the treating physician and non-operative treatment was continued. After a total treatment period of 9  months including 7  months of physiotherapy the @entity1 still presented a limited range of motion and local soft tissue swelling of the right wrist. The @entity1 filed a complaint for wrong treatment of the @entity174 resulting in severe @entity158 and considerable @entity85 leading to a significant handicap during activities of daily living. The expert opinion of the arbitration board ascertained a case of medical malpractice in terms of the indications. Due to the initial presence of criteria of radiological instability, an operative treatment had already been indicated at the first presentation. In addition, secondary dislocation during radiological follow-up examination should have led to conversion of treatment in favor of surgery. The arbitration board furthermore concluded that iatrogenic malpractice led to a severe @entity85 which would result in a loss of grip strength and future arthritic deformation of the wrist. Legal aspects of the case are discussed.

[Conservative treatment of XXXX : Consequences of an uncritical follow-up.]

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['woman', 'patient'] @entity85 :: ('MESH:D009140', 'Disease') :: ['deformity of the right wrist'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain'] @entity174 :: ('MESH:D050723', 'Disease') :: ['distal radius fracture', 'fracture']
@entity174 :: (MESH:D050723,Disease) :: ['distal radius fracture']
