The outcome of intra-articular distal radius fractures treated with fragment-specific fixation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the clinical, radiographic, and functional outcome of treating intra-articular distal radius fractures with fragment-specific fixation.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 81 patients with 85 intra-articular distal radius fractures who were treated with fragment-specific fixation was performed. Minimum time to follow-up evaluation was 1 year, with a mean time of 32 months. The immediate postoperative films were compared with those taken at the final follow-up evaluation. Radiographs of the uninjured wrist were also obtained at the final follow-up evaluation for comparison. Patients were examined for wrist and finger range of motion, deformity, and grip strength, and they completed a standard Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand outcome survey.


RESULTS
According to Gartland and Werley scoring there were 61 excellent and 24 good results. Flexion and extension of the surgically treated wrist at the final follow-up evaluation averaged 85% and 91%, respectively, of the uninjured wrist; grip strength averaged 92% compared with the uninjured side. The average Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand outcome score for the injured wrist was 9. Sixty-two percent of patients achieved a 100 degrees arc of flexion and extension and normal forearm rotation by postoperative week 6. Radiographic alignment was maintained between immediate postoperative and final follow-up films, and there were no cases of symptomatic arthritis at the final follow-up evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Fragment-specific fixation is a reasonable alternative for treating intra-articular fractures of the distal radius. At final follow-up evaluations, patients had good to excellent results with respect to range of motion, grip strength, radiographic alignment, and satisfaction scores. Stable fixation allowed starting active and passive motion of the wrist without compromising postoperative alignment.


METHODS
Therapeutic IV.
Benson
Leon S
LS
Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. leon.benson@comcast.net
Minihane
Keith P
KP
Stern
Laura D
LD
Eller
Erik
E
Seshadri
Roopa
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery