title: Treatment of volar Barton's fractures: comparison between two common surgical techniques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Volar Barton's fractures are not uncommon but more convincing treatment methods are still controversial. Currently, open reduction with buttress plating or closed reduction with external fixation and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation have achieved most support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three consecutive volar Barton's fractures treated with either open reduction and buttress plate fixation (12 cases) or closed reduction with external fixation and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation (11 cases) were compared retrospectively. The fractures were followed-up for a mean of 30 months (range, 24-50 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 23 fractures healed without major complications. The wrist function was satisfactory in all plating patients (12 out of 12) and nine out of 11 external fixation patients (p = 0.22).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the above mentioned surgical techniques give a high success rate. Despite the fact that each technique has advantages and disadvantages, the results from the plating treatment seem to be superior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Da-Chien General Hospital, Miaoli, ROC.
authors.forename: Ming-Hsun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Chi-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hsien-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: I-Chun
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chung-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kun-Chung
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chih-Hwa
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chi-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies