Intra-articular distal radius fractures; functional outcome of percutaneous kirschner wire fixation and short arm cast in patients of 20-70 years

To determine functional outcome of percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation and short arm cast in intra-articular distal radius fractures in patients of 20-70 years. Descriptive case series. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dow University of Health Sciences / Civil Hospital Karachi. 1[st] April, 2013 to 30[th] September, 2013. A total of 62 patients with closed type III distal fractures according to Frykman classification were included in this study. Patient lying in supine position and after general anesthesia, closed reduction was done with the forearm in prone position, aiming to restore normal anatomical position. Two Kirschner wires were inserted from radial styloid process in parallel and oblique fashion to the medial cortex of the radius and one transversely from lateral to medial for intra-articular fragments. Final functional outcome was assessed after 12 weeks of surgery and recorded on pre-designed Proforma. Acceptable functional outcome of percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation and short arm cast in intra-articular distal radius fractures was observed in 80.65% [50/62] cases. It is concluded that functional outcome of percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation and short arm cast procedure is satisfactory in intra-articular distal radius fractures and it appears to be an easy, technically less demanding and effective method for stabilization, so this procedure can be applied for patients with these fractures

Management of type-II open fracture shaft of femur with intramedullary interlocking nail

To find out frequency of fracture healing with the use of interlocking intramedullary nailing in type-II open fracture shaft of femur. Descriptive case series. Orthopaedic Surgery, Unit I Civil Hospital, Karachi, from August 2009 to August 2010. Sixty-five patients who sustained type-II open fracture of shaft of femur, were selected. All patients underwent fracture stabilization by locking intramedullary nail. The main outcome measure was fracture healing [i.e. callus formation] on x-ray at six months of follow-up. The SPSS version 13 was applied used to analyze data. Majority of the patients [44.6%] were between 18-30 years of age. Males were affected more than females with male to female ratio of 4:1. Road traffic accidents were responsible for these fractures in 73.8% of cases. Healing [i.e. callus formation] was achieved in 61[93.8%] patients radiographically at the end of six-months. Mean time to union was 18.5 weeks. Intramedullary interlocking nail was safe and effective in the management of type-II open fractures of femur shaft with excellent healing rates