Percutaneous Pinning of Fractures of Distal Radius in Adults

Settings: Orthopaedic Department, Kasr El Aini School of medicine, Cairo University.Objectives: Is to evaluate the value of percutaneous pinning as minimal fixation for distal radius fractures after closed reduction in maintaining the reduction, allowing early mobilization and minimizing the complications of plaster cast.Study Design: This is a prospective randomized clinical trial. Eighty three patients with a) dorsally displaced extraarticular distal radius fractures b) and non comminuted intraarticular fractures had been treated by closed reduction and fixation by dorsally placed wires through the fracture site and a third trans-styloid wire. Postoperative immobilization for 3 weeks in a posterior slab had been followed.Results: Only sixty seven patients had completed the follow-up period (one year). 56 patients were considered successful ( 83.58%) and 11 patients were considered unsuccessful (16.42%). Loss of reduction occurred in 7 cases, reflex sympathetic dystrophy in 2 cases, pin tract infection in 3 cases. No median nerve injury or rupture of extensor tendons.Conclusion: Trans-styloid fixation augmenting intrafocal pinning from the dorsal side in fractures of distal radius had given more stability to the fracture with less radial shortening and shorter period of immobilization in posterior slab rather than a complete cast.