Clinical Results after Percutaneous Surgical Treatment of Intra-articular Fracture of the Distal Radius

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic results of percutaneous surgical treatment of the intra-articular fractures of the distal radius, we have compared the results of percutaneous pinning and the combination of percutaneous pinning with external fixation after closed reduction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed the results of 52 patients with intra-articular fracture who received the operative treatment with closed reduction in the period of June, 1995 to June, 2001 and also were in regular follow-up at least one year. We used the subjective analysis by Cole & Obletz and the objective analysis by Scheck. RESULTS: We have found the outcome that 83.3% of percutaneous pinning were graded above "Good" in type B and C1 and 82.2% of the combination treatment of percutaneous pinning with external fixation were graded above "Good" in type C2 and C3. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous pinning and external fixator after closed reduction in intra-articular fractures of the distal radius are considered useful to restore the articular congruity and make good clinical results.