Clinical and Radiologic Outcomes of AO Type C1, 2 Distal Radius Fractures Treated with Percutaneous Pinning or Volar Locking Plating

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare clinical and radiological results between closed reduction followed by percutaneous K-wire fixation and volar locking compression plate fixation in the treatment of AO type-C1, 2 fractures of the distal radius. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of this study were 61 patients who had a AO type-C1,2 fracture of the distal radius treated from March 2006 to January 2010, and were followed up for over 12 months. Clinical evaluations included disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand score (DASH) score, patient-rated wrist evaluation questionnaires (PRWE) score, the Grip strength, and the range of joint motion at the last follow-up, and radiological assessment included the presence of bony union, the dorsal tilt angle of the radius, the inclination of the radius, and the radial shortening. RESULTS: The range of joint motion, the grip strength, DASH and PRWE demonstrated no significant difference between the two groups. Radiological results revealed that the patients treated with percutaneous K-wire fixation showed greater radial shortening than those treated with locking compression plate fixation. CONCLUSION: Although clinical results are similar between volar locking plating and percutaneous pinning in the treatment of AO C1, 2 distal radius fractures, volar locking plating is more effective in preventing radial shortening during fracture healing.