Efficacy of different fixation devices in maintaining an initial reduction for surgically managed distal radius fractures.
BACKGROUND
Fracture of the distal radius is a common injury. Many treatment options exist for the surgical management of extra-articular and intra-articular distal radius fractures. The best method of treatment for these fractures remains controversial. We sought to examine radiographic outcomes of patients treated with non-spanning external fixator (NSEF), open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with locking plates and screws or closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) and compare their ability to maintain radiographic parameters over the initial 6-week postoperative period.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of radiographs showing 211 distal radius fractures treated with NSEF, ORIF or CRPP. We examined the images for a variety of radiological parameters. Measurements were taken immediately postoperatively and at 6-week follow-up to determine whether there was any loss of reduction.


RESULTS
Of the 211 fractures, 104 (49.3%) were type-A fractures, 12 (5.7%) were type-B fractures and 95 (45.0%) were type-C fractures. The 3 treatments maintained the reduction obtained at surgery until healing. The CRPP and ORIF treatments failed to maintain correction in ulnar variance for the 6-week period; however, only ORIF actually changed the ulnar variance from presurgical values.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with ORIF for comminuted, intra-articular distal radius fractures produces good radiographic results with maintenance of surgical radiographic parameters, whereas NSEFand CRPP of less complex fractures also provide good results. This suggests that fracture-specific fixation with CRPP or NSEF are sufficient for certain distal radius fractures.
Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, McGill University Healthy Centre, Montréal, Que.
Loren
L
Geller
Mitchell
M
Bernstein
Alberto
A
Carli
Greg
G
Berry
Rudy
R
Reindl
Edward
E
Harvey
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011792:Quebec; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult