title: Good radiological and functional results after intramedullary nailing of distal radius fractures.
abstract: To evaluate the results after fixation of distal radius fractures using Micronail internal fixation, a prospective cohort study was performed, including displaced fractures of the distal radius (AO type A 2.2, A3.1, and A3.2). In total, 60 patients were included and 44 patients were available for 1-year follow-up (radiological and clinical examination) and 39 for 5-year follow-up (telephone interview). It was found that all fractures healed, with an average radial volar tilt of 2°, radial length of 11 mm, and a radial inclination of 22°. The functional result was excellent-to-good in 93% of the patients. Thirteen patients (30%) reported paraesthesia of the superficial branch of the radial nerve at the 1-year follow-up. In four patients the paraesthesia of the radial nerve was persistent. No other complications or reoperations were reported by the patients at the 5-year follow-up and only one implant had been removed. The study confirms that the Micronail is a minimal invasive method that can provide a stable fixation of selected distal radius fractures and provide a good functional outcome with a very low need of implant removal after fracture healing with few complications related to the operation, the main complication being permanent damage to the radial nerve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Regional Hospital Viborg, Denmark. lendre@rm.dk
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dremstrup
authors.forename: Mette S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Skjærbæk
authors.forename: Steen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olesen
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Høgh
authors.forename: Torben B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult