title: Internal fixation of the distal radius. A comparative, experimental study.
abstract: In a comparative, experimental examination of 60 human cadaver radii, the stability of various, widely used internal fixation procedures of a distal radius fracture loco typico using a dorsal wedge was determined. The use of 2.5-mm Kirschner wires (K-wires) delivered a 10% greater stability than 1.8-mm K-wires. The 2.7-mm polylactide rods achieved a slightly greater stability than 1.8-mm K-wires under accurate pinning conditions. Polylactide rods (35 mm length, 2 mm diameter) and polyglycolide rods (60 mm length, 2 mm diameter) proved to be 20% less solid than 1.8-mm K-wires and almost 45% less than plate fixation. The short polylactide pins, however, did not have enough hold in the proximal cortical bone. The 2.7-mm polylactide rods (60 mm length) complied with the stability prerequisites necessary for comparable substitution for K-wires in distal radius fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Cologne, Köln-Lindenthal, Germany.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Rader
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Räuber
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Rehm
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koebke
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D001864:Bone Wires; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011091:Polyesters; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide)