[Treatment of distal radius fracture. Surgical technique: bore wire osteosynthesis]

The Kirschner wire fixation is mainly indicated in unstable types of Colles' and children's fractures of the distal radius. Out of 2760 distal radius fractures (1975-1989) 626 (20.7%) were treated operatively including 326 (11.8%) with K-wires. Primary operation was performed in 53.5% immediately after trauma. Exposing the sensitive radial nerval paths, 3-4 K-wires were inserted from the radial and the dorsoulnar aspect. The K-wire ends were covered subcutaneously. The clinical evaluation of a series of 226 patients according to the score of Lidström presented 79% excellent and good, 16% fair and 5% poor results. The clinical results correlate to the radiocarpal angle and radial shortening. Because of additional injuries to the ulnar complex give worse results in reposition, the ulnar styloid should be fixed.