Comparison of Outcome of two different Methods for the treatment of Intra-articular fracture of Distal Radius

Abstract

Objective: It is to compare the radiological and functional outcome of two different fixation methods for displaced intra articular distal radius fracture (DRF): open reduction and internal fixation with anatomical plate and closed reduction with percutaneous K-wires.

Methodology: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in Orthopaedics department, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore for one year; from April 2017 to March, 2018. Total 90 patients were selected in the study by ‘non-probability, consecutive sampling technique’ with 45 patients in each group of the study; Group-A (fixation method: Open reduction with internal fixation with volar plate) and Group-B (Fixation method: Kirschner-wire known as K-wire).

Results: The mean age in the group A and group B was 53.7 ± 11.8 years and 55.2 ± 12.3 years respectively. There were 58 male and 32 females in the study. The differences in volar tilt, radial inclination, radial length and modified Mayo score were significantly better in group A than group B (p-value < 0.05). The differences were not significantly different for articular step off in the two study groups (p-value > 0.05).

Conclusion: Open reduction with internal fixation using volar locking plates yielded significantly better radiological and functional outcomes than percutaneous fixation using K-wire in the 6 months’ postoperative period.