[Technique and results of modified percutaneous bore wire osteosynthesis of the distal radius]

A modified technique for percutaneous K-wire pinning of distal radius fractures is presented. With this method, three to four K-wires are introduced from the radial styloid process towards and through the dorsal, volar and ulnar proximal cortical wall, respectively. After the fracture fragments have been demonstrated to be stable, the wires are cut, bent over and fixed. Then a dorsal plaster splint is applied, which should be worn for 4-6 weeks, depending on whether or not there is a dorsal comminution zone. Fifty-five patients have been operated on by this method. At follow-up 6 months after the operation, no secondary dislocation, wire migration, infection, Sudeck syndrome or functional disturbance was seen. The advantage of this method is emphasized as compared with the usual, previously published method.