RESUMO
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