title: External or internal fixation in the treatment of non-reducible distal radial fractures?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have previously shown in a randomized study that in the first year after treatment, open reduction and internal fixation resulted in better grip strength and forearm rotation than closed reduction and bridging external fixation. In the present study, we investigated whether this difference persists over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 50 patients included in the original study (mean age 53 years, 36 women) were sent a QuickDASH questionnaire and an invitation to a radiographic and clinical examination after a mean of 5 (3-7) years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 50 patients returned the QuickDASH questionnaire and 45 participated in the clinical and radiographic examination. In the internal fixation group, the grip strength was 95% (SD 12) of the uninjured side and in the external fixation group it was 90% (SD 21) of the uninjured side (p = 0.3). QuickDASH score, range of motion, and radiographic parameters were similar between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The difference originally found between internal and external fixation in distal radial fractures at 1 year regarding grip strength and range of motion was found to diminish with time. At 5 years, both groups had approached normal values.
authors: Hand Unit, Department of Orthopedics, Clinical Sciences, Lund, Sweden. marcus.landgren@med.lu.se
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Landgren
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Jerrhag
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Tägil
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Kopylov
authors: Mats
authors: M
authors: Geijer
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Abramo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm / Q000502:physiology; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012086:Reoperation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult