Treatment of unstable distal radius fractures with cancellous allograft and external fixation.
Unstable fractures of the distal radius continue to pose a challenge to the hand surgeon. Adjunctive bone grafting is often required to augment structural integrity and aid healing. Because of the risks inherent to bone autograft harvest, however, freeze-dried, irradiated cancellous bone allograft has been used to treat unstable distal radius fractures with severe metaphyseal comminution. Seventeen patients with such fractures (mean age, 70 years; 2 males and 15 females) were treated with bone allograft and external fixation with or without internal fixation. The outcome was evaluated using the modified Mayo wrist score, demonstrating 3 excellent, 8 good, 6 fair, and no poor results on follow-up examination (mean follow-up period, 23 months; range, 7-43 months). The patients were requested to return for follow-up review between 1997 and 1998. These results show that cancellous bone allograft is a useful adjunct to external fixation in the treatment of unstable distal radius fractures.
Herrera
M
M
Department of Orthopaedics, New York-Presbyterian Hospital Medical Center, Columbia Presbyterian Campus, NY, USA.
Chapman
C B
CB
Roh
M
M
Strauch
R J
RJ
Rosenwasser
M P
MP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*