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The chauffeur's fracture: simple or complex?
1Hand and Microsurgery Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Journal of Hand Surgery (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|April 1, 1992
Summary
Chauffeur's fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation showed excellent functional outcomes. Associated carpal injuries suggest these fractures may be part of a more complex injury pattern.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Traumatology
- Hand surgery
Background:
- Chauffeur's fracture, a radial styloid fracture, is often caused by direct impact.
- Treatment options include conservative management and surgical fixation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the functional outcomes of treating chauffeur's-type fractures using open reduction and internal fixation.
- To investigate the potential for associated carpal injuries in these fractures.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 14 patients with chauffeur's-type fractures.
- Surgical treatment primarily involved open reduction and internal fixation with Herbert screws.
- Average follow-up duration was 18 months.
Main Results:
- All 14 patients achieved good or excellent functional results post-treatment.
- Four patients presented with associated carpal injuries.
- No significant complications were reported.
Conclusions:
- Open reduction and internal fixation provide excellent functional outcomes for chauffeur's-type fractures.
- The presence of associated carpal injuries suggests a more complex injury mechanism than previously thought.
- Radial styloid fractures may indicate the initial stage of a broader wrist injury complex.