A combined approach to distal radius fractures: Outcomes of external fixator-assisted plating in intra-articular cases
Manish Milind Wasekar, Sunil P. Handralmath, Gurunath S. WachcheAbstract
Context:
Distal radius fractures are among the most common upper extremity injuries. While volar plating remains a standard treatment, there is no soft-tissue preservation. External fixation, a minimally invasive technique preserves the soft tissue but lacks in providing rigid stability.
Aims:
To evaluate the effectiveness of combining external fixation with internal plating in improving functional outcomes in distal end radius fractures.
Settings and Design:
A prospective observational cohort study conducted over a 2 year period, with a minimum follow-up of 12 weeks for each patient.
Materials and Methods:
A total of 100 patients with intra-articular distal radius fractures were treated using a combination of external fixation and internal plating. Pain, function, and range of motion (ROM) were assessed postoperatively.
Statistical Analysis Used:
Descriptive analysis with categorical outcome classification (Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor) based on cumulative scores.
Results:
The majority of patients achieved Good or Fair outcomes across all domains. Among females, 42.6% attained Good pain scores compared to 23.2% of males, while Fair outcomes were predominant in males (51.7%). Functional recovery followed similar trends, with 39.9% of females achieving Good scores versus 25.0% of males. ROM recovery was modest, with Excellent ROM achieved in only 11.8% of females and 12.1% of males.
Conclusions:
Hybrid fixation using external fixator-assisted plating can achieve satisfactory outcomes in intra-articular distal radius fractures by combining the benefits of minimal invasiveness with internal stability.