scholarly journals Percutaneous fixation with Kirschner wires versus volar locking plate fixation in adults with dorsally displaced fracture of distal radius: randomised controlled trial

BMJ ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 349 (aug05 2) ◽  
pp. g4807-g4807 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Costa ◽  
J. Achten ◽  
N. R. Parsons ◽  
A. Rangan ◽  
D. Griffin ◽  
...  
2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (17) ◽  
pp. 1-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew L Costa ◽  
Juul Achten ◽  
Caroline Plant ◽  
Nick R Parsons ◽  
Amar Rangan ◽  
...  

BackgroundIn high-income countries, 6% of all women will have sustained a fracture of the wrist (distal radius) by the age of 80 years and 9% by the age of 90 years. Advances in orthopaedic surgery have improved the outcome for patients: many such fractures can be treated in a plaster cast alone, but others require surgical fixation to hold the bone in place while they heal. The existing evidence suggests that modern locking-plate fixation provides improved functional outcomes, but costs more than traditional wire fixation.MethodsIn this multicentre trial, we randomly assigned 461 adult patients having surgery for an acute dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius to either percutaneous Kirschner-wire fixation or locking-plate fixation. The primary outcome measure was the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation©(PRWE) questionnaire at 12 months after the fracture. In this surgical trial, neither the patients nor the surgeons could be blind to the intervention. We also collected information on complications and combined costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) to assess cost-effectiveness.ResultsThe baseline characteristics of the two groups were well balanced and over 90% of patients completed follow-up. Both groups of patients recovered wrist function by 12 months. There was no clinically relevant difference in the PRWE questionnaire score at 3 months, 6 months or 12 months [difference at 12 months: –1.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) –4.5 to 1.8;p = 0.398]. There was no difference in the number of complications in each group and small differences in QALY gains (0.008; 95% CI –0.001 to 0.018); Kirschner-wire fixation represents a cost-saving intervention (–£727; 95% CI –£588 to –£865), particularly in younger patients.ConclusionsContrary to the existing literature, and against the increasing use of locking-plate fixation, this trial shows that there is no difference between Kirschner wires and volar locking plates for patients with dorsally displaced fractures of the distal radius. A Kirschner-wire fixation is less expensive and quicker to perform.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN31379280.FundingThis project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full inHealth Technology Assessment; Vol. 19, No. 17. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.


2019 ◽  
Vol 101-B (8) ◽  
pp. 978-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Costa ◽  
J. Achten ◽  
A. Rangan ◽  
S. E. Lamb ◽  
N. R. Parsons

Aims The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of Kirschner wire (K-wire) fixation with locking-plate fixation for patients with a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius in the five years after injury. Patients and Methods We report the five-year follow-up of a multicentre, two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 461 adults with a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius within 3 cm of the radiocarpal joint that required surgical fixation were recruited from 18 trauma centres in the United Kingdom. Patients were excluded if the surface of the wrist joint was so badly displaced it required open reduction. In all, 448 patients were randomized to receive either K-wire fixation or locking-plate fixation. In the K-wire group, there were 179 female and 38 male patients with a mean age of 59.1 years (19 to 89). In the locking-plate group, there were 194 female and 37 male patients with a mean age of 58.3 years (20 to 89). The primary outcome measure was the patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE). Secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life using the EuroQol five-dimension three-level (EQ-5D-3L) assessment, and further surgery related to the index fracture. Results At 12 months, 402/448 participants (90%) recruited into the main study provided PRWE scores. At year two, 294 participants (66%) provided scores; at year five, 198 participants (44%) provided scores. There was no clinically relevant difference in the PRWE at any point during the five-year follow-up; at five years, the PRWE score was 8.3 (12.5) in the wire group and 11.3 (15.6) in the plate group (95% confidence interval -6.99 to 0.99; p = 0.139). Nor was there a clinically relevant difference in health-related quality of life. Only three participants had further surgery in the five years after their injury (one in the wire group and two in the plate group). Conclusion This follow-up study continues to show no evidence of a difference in wrist pain, wrist function, or quality of life for patients treated with wires versus locking plates in the five years following a dorsally displaced fracture of the distal radius. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:978–983.


2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 745-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Bentohami ◽  
K. de Burlet ◽  
N. de Korte ◽  
M. P. J. van den Bekerom ◽  
J. C. Goslings ◽  
...  

The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the prevalence of complications following volar locking plate fixation of distal radial fractures. A computer-based search was carried out using EMBASE and PUBMED/MEDLINE. Only prospective comparative and prospective cohort studies that presented data concerning complications after treatment of distal radial fractures with a volar locking plate in human adults with a minimal follow-up of 6 months were included. Two quality assessment tools were used to assess the methodological quality of the studies (level of evidence rating according to the Oxford Centre of Evidence Based Medicine and the modified version of the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group’s former quality assessment tool). Thirty three studies were eligible for final assessment. Most complications were problems with nerve and tendon function as well as complex regional pain syndrome. With an overall complication rate of 16.5%, most of which were ‘minor’ complications and low rates of nonunion and malunion, volar locking plate fixation can be considered a reasonably safe treatment option for patients with distal radial fractures.


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