[The treatment of distal radius fractures using the external fixator]

This is a report on the stabilisation of fractures of the distal end of the radius type C2 and C3 and open fractures by external fixator. Between 1982 and 1989 38 patients with 43 fractures were treated. A follow-up was done 8 to 80 months after operation including 35 patients. 14 patients were polytraumatised. Especially in this group of patients, the advantages of this procedure can be seen. This advantages are a small stress for the patient, involving only a short time of assembling of the external fixator besides a high stability of the system. Our results show, as well as the results of the literature, that the external fixator has its place in a differentiated therapeutic concept of intraarticular fractures, open fractures and fractures with a defect of the distal radius.