Seventeen cases of unstable comminuted fractures of distal radius were treated with open reduction and internal fixation from Jul. 1988 to Apr. 1992 at the department of orthopaedic surgery at Maryknoll Hospital. Most of the fractures were the resutts of high-energy impact and the results of this study were as follows:

1. According to Fernandez classification, the type A3.2 fracture was most common, and nine of 17 patients were classifled as C2 and C3 (intra-articular comminuted fracture) and eight as A3(extra-articular comminuted fracture).

2. The final result of wrist motion showed dorsiflexion/palmar flexion to be 77.6% of the opposite site and of the grip strength was 80.6% of the opposite site.

3. In the cases of extra-articular comminuted fracture, attention was focused on restoration of radial length, and in the cases of intra-articular fracture, better results were obtained with achieving congruent articular reduction.

4. The funtional end results were superior especially in young patients.