A STUDY OF OUTCOMES OF DISTAL END RADIUS FRACTURES MANAGED BY EXTERNAL FIXATOR

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the distal radius continue to be the most common skeletalinjuries treated by the orthopedic surgeon. Unstable fractures of the distal part of the radiushave shown an inherent tendency towards loss of reduction after non-operative treatment.External skeletal fixation has been popular for the treatment of displaced, unstable fracturesof the distal part of the radius because it combines a minimally invasive procedure withreduction by ligamentotaxis.METHOD: A retrospective study of 70 patients of fracture of distal end radius treated withexternal fixator came to OPD at tertiary care hospital during the study period of 2 years fromJuly 2020 to June 2022, were included in the study after obtaining permission frominstitutional review board.RESULT: All 70 patients were assessed in the form of the functional and radiologicaloutcome based on Subjective evaluation by Modified Demerit Point System of Gartland andWerley (Functional) and Lidstorm and Frykman Criteria modified by Sarmiento(Anatomical). We obtained “excellent” results in 47.15%; “good” in 35.72% cases; “fair” in14.28% and “poor” in 2.85% cases with a mean G & W score of 6.35.CONCLUSION: Finding of this study shows that external fixator is an easy, cost effective,reliable and most suitable treatment in treating intraarticular and unstable extraarticular distalend radial fractures by the principle of ligamentotaxis.