Percutaneous pinning versus pin-in-plaster for treatment of distal radius fractures

Distal radius fractures constitute 17% of all fractures and 75% of forearm fractures in adults. Due to the vital role of the hands in a wide range of daily tasks, quick recovery and fewer complications for the patients are important. The purpose of this study was to compare the two common treatments of distal radius fractures namely, percutaneous pinning and pin-in-plaster.

An observational analytical cohort study was conducted on 74 patients with distal radius fracture treated with percutaneous pinning fixation and pin-in-plaster techniques. The patients, aged more than or equal to 18 years with unilateral, closed and unstable distal radius fractures were treated in Shahid Beheshti Hospital during 2007 to 2010.The data were entered into the SPSS Version 20 statistical software and analyzed by student's t-test, one-way ANOVA and repeated measures test.

Randomly, 31 patients were in pin-in-plaster group and 43 patients in percutaneous pinning group. The patients' age range was 18-74 years. The average of radial inclination and palmar tilt after 6 weeks was significant (P=0.02, p<0.0001) in patients with percutaneous pinning. The performance of the patients after 3 and 12 months in both groups was significant (p=<0.0001).

This study revealed that in approach to unstable DRF in adults, PCP method shows better improvement compared to PP technique.