Nonsurgical Treatment of a Distal Radius Fracture: When & How?

Distal radius fractures are a common upper extremity fracture and a considerable number of patients have a stable fracture. In the treatment of distal radius fractures, there is considerable disagreement regarding the need for a strict anatomical restoration with operation in elderly patients. Therefore, nonsurgical treatment is a still important treatment option in distal radius fractures. The radiological parameters of before or after manual reduction are important for deciding whether to perform operation or not. The radiological parameters include dorsal angulation of the articular surface, radial shortening, extent of dorsal comminution, intra-articular displacement, concomitant ulnar metaphyseal fracture, shear fracture, and fracture-dislocation of the distal radio-ulnar joint. In addition, clinical situations of patients, including age, activity level, underline disease, and recovery level, which the patients wish should be considered, comprehensively. For the duration of a splint or cast, three to four weeks are recommended in impacted or minimally displaced fractures and five to six weeks in displaced fractures. After reduction of the displaced fractures, patients should undergo a radiologicical examination every week to check the redisplacement or deformity of the fracture site until two or three weeks post trauma. Arm elevation is important for controlling fracture site swelling and finger exercises, including metacarpophalangeal joint motion, are needed to prevent hand stiffness. Active range of motion exercise of the wrist should be initiated immediately after removing the splint or cast.

The Results of Radial Shortening Osteotomy for Kienbock Disease Stage III

PURPOSE: Radial shortening osteotomy and ulnar lengthening osteotomy for decreasing axial loading have been known to treatment for avascular necrosis of lunate bone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of radial shortening osteotomy for Lichtman stage III Kienbock disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 2001 and October 2008, thirteen patients with Kienbock disease underwent a radial shortening osteotomy at our institution. On the basis of Lichtman classification, six had stage IIIA and seven had stage IIIB. Radiographic measurement of the ulnar variance and the carpal height ratio were assessed preoperatively and at the follow-up. Patients were examined for wrist pain, range of motion at flexion and extension and grip strength both preoperatively and postoperatively. The clinical outcomes was evaluated through the modification of Evans scoring system. RESULTS: All thirteen had maintained the preoperative stage at the follow-up. In ulnar variance, negative variance was seven. The carpal height ratio was increased mean 0.018 at the follw-up. Pain in VAS was improved mean 3.6 at the follow-up. In range of motion of wrist flexion-extension, in the eleven which had limitation of motion preoperatively, all eleven showed improvement. In grip strength, among the ten which had decreased preoperatively, eight showed improvement and two showed no change at the follw-up. The clinical outcomes were good in eight, fair in three and poor in two. Among the five, negative ulnar variance of stage IIIB, three had good, two had fair clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We found that radial shortening osteotomy can prevent disease progression, also show good clinical results for stage IIIB Kienbock disease as well as stage IIIA.

Radial Shortening or Radial Wedge Osteotomy for Kienbock's Disease / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Between 1989 and 1995, 14 patients with Kienbock's disease were treated with radial shortening or a radial wedge osteotomy. Clinical and radiological changes were classified according to Lichtman's stages and ulnar variance. Seven patients were male and seven were female. The mean age was 45 years, ranging from 29 to 64. The average follow-up period was 29 months, ranging from 12 to 61. Of the ten patients with negative ulnar variance who were treated by radial shortening, two cases were in Lichtman's stage II, six cases were stage III-a and two cases were stage III-b. Of the four patients with zero or positive ulnar variance who were treated by a radial wedge osteotomy, one case was stage 11 and three cases were stage III-a. The results were evaluated in terms of diminished wrist pain, increased grip strength, increased range of wrist motion and radiologic changes of the lunate. Wrist pain had diminished in all patients and grip strength had increased on average from 54% to 70% in the unaffected side. The range of arc of the wrist had increased on average from 59degrees preoperatively to 93 postoperatively. Sclerosis of the lunate improved in 43% of cases, cystic changes of the lunate improved in 57%, fragmentation of the lunate improved in 36% and the carpal height ratio increased in 50%. Of the 14 patients, 13 patients (93%) showed satisfactory results. One patient had an unsatisfactory result, according to Lichtman's criteria. These results suggest that radial shortening or a radial wedge osteotomy is recommended in patients with stage ll, III-a or III-b Kienb ck's disease, according to the ulnar variance. Early wrist pain reduction, increased range of motion and grip strength and improved avascularity of the lunate are all positive outcomes attainable with these treatment methods.