title: Regional anesthesia improves outcome after distal radius fracture fixation over general anesthesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of anesthetic type on clinical outcomes after operative treatment of distal radius fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty-seven patients with a distal radius fracture (OTA type 23) were identified within a registry of 600 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with operative distal radius fractures underwent open reduction and internal fixation with a volarly applied plate and screws under regional or general anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical, radiographic, and patient-based functional outcomes were recorded at routine postoperative intervals. Complications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred eighty-seven patients met inclusion criteria and had a minimum of 1-year follow-up. There were no differences between the groups with regard to patient demographics or fracture types treated. At both 3 and 6 months post surgery, pain was diminished among those patients who received a regional block. Wrist and finger range of motion for patients who received regional versus general anesthesia was improved at all follow-up points. Patients who received regional anesthesia also had higher functional scores as measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand at 3 months (P = 0.04) and 6 months (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who are candidates should be offered regional anesthesia when undergoing repair of a displaced distal radius fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY, USA. kenneth.egol@nyumc.org
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Egol
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Soojian
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paksima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome