title: Fixation of distal radius fractures using a fragment-specific system.
abstract: Operative treatment for distal radius fractures continues to evolve, but small-fragment fixation has some advantages compared with previous methods. We assessed two groups of patients. Group 1 was an initial series of patients treated with small-fragment fixation at a large institution in the United States, and Group 2 was a review of patients treated in Lund, Sweden. The first group was evaluated for return to routine activity. Return to work or routine daily activity averaged 6 weeks (range, 3-16 weeks). The second group was evaluated for early grip strength and range of motion compared with the uninjured extremity. The grip strength at final followup averaged 67% compared with the uninjured extremity. Wrist flexion averaged 46 degrees, extension averaged 57 degrees, pronation averaged 80 degrees, and supination averaged 73 degrees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic study, level IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Orthopaedics and Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. schnall@usc.edu
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Schnall
authors.forename: Bill J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abramo
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kopylov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery*; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000503:physiopathology