COMBINED PLATE VERSUS EXTERNAL FIXATION FOR DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURES

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology
• Hand Surgery

Background:

• Comminuted distal radius fractures present complex treatment challenges.
• Surgical management aims to restore function and radiological alignment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare functional and radiological outcomes of external fixation with percutaneous pinning versus volar-dorsal combined plate osteosynthesis for intra-articular distal radius fractures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 49 patients with comminuted distal radius fractures.
• Comparison of surgical outcomes using Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Mayo scoring, range of motion, and grip strength.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in DASH scores, VAS, Mayo scores, range of motion, or grip strength.
• Both techniques yielded comparable functional and radiological results.

Conclusions:

• Volar-dorsal combined plate osteosynthesis, despite a more complex procedure, demonstrated lower complication rates and allowed for earlier mobilization.
• This technique can be considered a viable alternative to external fixation with percutaneous pinning for these fractures.