Operative treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures using the small AO external fixation device

A retrospective group study was done to evaluate the effect of the small AO external fixator in the management of acute intra-articular fractures of the distal radius.

Between January 1995 and December 1996, 70 consecutive patients with articular fractures of the distal radius were treated by closed reduction and external fixation with small AO external fixators. The mean age at the time of surgery was 58.9 years (range, 14-87 years). There were 58 Colles' Barton's fractures and 12 Smith's Barton's fractures. The follow-up period was 104 months (range, 92-118 months).

All fractures united in a mean of 5.8 weeks (range, 4-10 weeks). At the final follow-up, the average range of motion was 56.3 +/- 11.6 degrees in flexion, 58.6 +/- 10.7 degrees in extension, 21.5 +/- 4.2 degrees in ulnar deviation, 9.1 +/- 2.9 degrees in radial deviation, 71.5 +/- 8.5 degrees in pronation, and 67.3 +/- 9.2 degrees in supination. Compared with the normal side, the average grip force was 87 +/- 6%. The overall clinical and functional outcomes, according to the scoring system of Gartland and Werley, showed that 22 patients (31.4%) had excellent results, 36 (51.4%) had good results, 9 (12.9%) had fair results, and 3 (4.3%) had poor results.

Closed reduction and external fixation with the small AO external fixator is useful and effective in the management of displaced comminuted articular fractures of the distal radius.