Conehead wedging screw for distal radius fractures in elderly patients

A retrospective study was done of the treatment of 76 distal radius fractures in patients older than 55 years, using intrafocal fixation with a conehead wedging screw or a threaded Kirschner wire. The average age of the 57 women and 19 men was 65.9 years. The fracture types classified according to Frykman were: 10 Type I, four Type II, two Type III, 11 Type IV, eight Type V, 10 Type VI, eight Type VII, and 23 Type VIII. The fixation materials used were a threaded Kirschner wire in 37 patients, and a conehead wedging screw in 39 patients. Followups for the two groups were 28 and 26 months, respectively. The conehead wedging screws were superior to the threaded Kirschner wires in maintaining postoperative reduction in displaced, moderately comminuted intraarticular fractures in elderly patients and had a lower complication rate. Intrafocal fixation using a conehead wedging screw may be indicated for treatment of intraarticular fractures with moderate comminution in elderly patients.