Distal radius fracture volar locking plate osteosynthesis using wide-awake local anaesthesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 857-863
Author(s):  
Ruben Dukan ◽  
Elie Krief ◽  
Remy Nizard

Surgical fixation of distal radius fractures under local anaesthesia with the patient wide awake allows an intraoperative testing of the fixation stability under active mobilization. We evaluated the feasibility and clinical results of this technique in 45 patients prospectively in two matched comparable groups: wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet and loco-regional anaesthesia. We found that the pain scores during the anaesthetic administration and the surgical procedure were similar in two groups. Ranges of wrist motion and QuickDASH scores were improved significantly in the wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet group at 6 weeks and 3 months and similar at 6 months compared with those receiving loco-regional anaesthesia. Patients in wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet returned to work significantly earlier than the loco-regional anaesthesia group. We conclude that osteosynthesis of distal radius fractures can be safely performed under wide-awake local anaesthesia no tourniquet, leading to no increase in pain level and similar functional outcomes compared with those under loco-regional anaesthesia. Level of evidence: III

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 331-338
Author(s):  
Liew Mei Yi ◽  
Amir Adham Ahmad ◽  
Shairil Rahayu Ruslan ◽  
Shalimar Abdullah ◽  
Abdul Rauf Ahmad

2019 ◽  
Vol 08 (06) ◽  
pp. 482-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Kaiser ◽  
Hannes Gruber ◽  
Fanny Loth ◽  
Gernot Schmidle ◽  
Rohit Arora ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Volar locking plates with a central notch were designed to reduce the risk of flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendon irritation after volar plating for distal radius fractures. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the course of the FPL tendon after FPL-plate osteosynthesis to identify a plate position that avoids an impingement with the FPL tendon. Patients and Methods Nineteen patients treated with volar plating using an FPL plate for a distal radius fracture were evaluated. Transverse ultrasound images were used to assess whether the profile of the FPL tendon lied within the plate notch. The position of the FPL tendon on transverse ultrasound images was transferred onto postoperative dorsovolar X-ray images to define an FPL tendon corridor for a plate position not interfering with the FPL tendon. Results The FPL tendon was aligned inside the plate notch completely in three cases, partially in 11 cases, and missed the notch in five cases. An FPL corridor was defined at the level of the watershed line with all FPL tendons being completely (74%) or partially (26%) aligned inside that corridor. There was a moderate correlation between the plate notch being positioned inside this corridor and the FPL tendon being positioned inside the plate notch (r = 0.49; p = 0.033). Conclusion It seems advantageous to place the plate notch within a corridor parallel to the radial shaft between the ulnar edge of the scaphoid tubercle and the scapholunate interval for the FPL tendon protection. Level of Evidence This is Level IV study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 429-439
Author(s):  
Muhammad Tahir ◽  
Ejaz Ali Chaudhry ◽  
Zain Zaffar ◽  
Kashif Anwar ◽  
Muhammad Ameer Hamza Mamoon ◽  
...  

Aims We hypothesized that the wide-awake local anaesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT) technique is cost-effective, easy to use, safe, and reproducible, with a low learning curve towards mastery, having a high patient satisfaction rate. Furthermore, WALANT would be a suitable alternative for the austere and developing nation environments where lack of funds and resources are a common issue. Methods This was a randomized control trial of 169 patients who required surgery for closed isolated distal radius fractures. The study was performed between March 2016 and April 2019 at a public sector level 1 trauma centre. General anaesthesia was used in 56 patients, Bier’s block in 58 patients, and WALANT in 55 patients. Data were collected on pre-, peri-, and postoperative parameters, clinical outcome, hospital costs, and patient satisfaction. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used with a p-value of 0.05 being significant. Results Operations with WALANT proceeded sooner, and patients recovered faster, resulting in mean fewer missed working days (7.8 (SD 1.67)) compared with general anaesthesia (20.1 (SD 7.37)) or Bier’s block (14.1 (SD 7.65)) (p < 0.001). The WALANT patients did not develop complications, while the other patients did (p < 0.04). Clinical outcomes did not differ, nor did surgeon qualification affect clinical outcomes. Mean hospital costs were lower for WALANT ($428.50 (SD 77.71)) than for general anaesthesia ($630.63 (SD 114.77)) or Bier’s block ($734.00 (SD 37.54)) (p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was also higher (p < 0.001). Conclusion WALANT for distal radius fractures results in a faster recovery, is more cost-effective, has similar clinical outcomes, and has fewer complications than general anaesthesia or Bier's block. This makes WALANT an attractive technique in any setting, but especially in middle- and low-income countries. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2020;9(7):429–439.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 4269-4276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hagay Orbach ◽  
Nimrod Rozen ◽  
Guy Rubin

Objective The use of wide-awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet (WALANT) is becoming an excellent alternative for elective hand surgeries and hand surgeries involving minor trauma. Although the use of WALANT for some soft tissue surgeries has become the state of the art, data regarding bony procedures, such as fracture management, under WALANT are limited. This study was performed to assess the WALANT technique for open reduction and internal fixation of distal radius fractures. Methods Five patients with displaced distal radius fractures were enrolled in the study. WALANT was carried out about 30 minutes prior to the first incision. Surgery was performed in the normal fashion, and the fractures were fixed using anatomic locking plates. After surgery, the patients were admitted overnight for observation and pain assessment, and they were discharged within 24 hours postoperatively. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Follow-up was performed in our outpatient clinic. No abnormalities were recorded. Results All patients underwent a successful painless surgery. No extra bleeding or other complications were recorded. Conclusion The WALANT technique offers a simple and safe alternative to traditional anesthetic techniques for open reduction and plating of distal radius fractures.


2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Martinez-Mendez ◽  
Alejandro Lizaur-Utrilla ◽  
Joaquin de-Juan-Herrero

We compared outcomes in elderly patients with intra-articular distal radius fractures treated by closed reduction and plaster immobilization or open reduction and internal fixation with a volar plate. Ninety-seven patients older than 60 years were randomly allocated to conservative (47 patients) or surgical (50 patients) treatment. Over a 2-year period, we assessed patient-rated wrist evaluation score, DASH (disability arm, shoulder and hand) questionnaire, pain, wrist range of motion, grip strength, and radiological parameters. The functional outcomes and quality of life were significantly better after volar plating fixation compared with conservative treatment. We found that restoration of the articular surface, radial inclination, and ulnar variance affected the outcomes, but the articular step-off did not. Twenty-five per cent of the patients with conservative treatment had secondary loss of reduction. We conclude that surgical plating leads to better outcomes than conservative treatment for elderly patients with intra-articular distal radius fractures. Level of evidence: I


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 516-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Kasapinova ◽  
V. Kamiloski

Our purpose was to determine the correlation of initial radiographic parameters of a distal radius fracture with an injury of the triangular fibrocartilage complex. In a prospective study, 85 patients with surgically treated distal radius fractures were included. Wrist arthroscopy was used to identify and classify triangular fibrocartilage complex lesions. The initial radial length and angulation, dorsal angulation, ulnar variance and distal radioulnar distance were measured. Wrist arthroscopy identified a triangular fibrocartilage complex lesion in 45 patients. Statistical analysis did not identify a correlation with any single radiographic parameter of the distal radius fractures with the associated triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries. The initial radiograph of a distal radius fracture does not predict a triangular fibrocartilage complex injury. Level of evidence: III


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 487-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Park ◽  
J. P. Kim ◽  
H. I. Lee ◽  
T. K. Lim ◽  
H. S. Jung ◽  
...  

We conducted a prospective randomized, multicentre study to compare short arm and long arm plaster casts for the treatment of stable distal radius fracture in patients older than 55 years. We randomly assigned patients over the age of 55 years who had stable distal radius fracture to either a short arm or long arm plaster cast at the first review 1 week after their injury. Radiographic and clinical follow-up was conducted at 1, 3, 5, 12 and 24 weeks following their injury. Also, degree of disability caused by each cast immobilization was evaluated at the patient’s visit to remove the cast. There were no significant differences in radiological parameters between the groups except for volar tilt. Despite these differences in volar tilt, neither functional status as measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, nor visual analogue scale was significantly different between the groups. However, the mean score of disability caused by plaster cast immobilization and the incidence rate of shoulder pain were significantly higher in patients who had a long plaster cast. Our findings suggest that a short arm cast is as effective as a long arm cast for stable distal radius fractures in the elderly. Furthermore, it is more comfortable and introduces less restriction on daily activities. Level of evidence: II


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 1027-1034
Author(s):  
Sondre Hassellund ◽  
Zinajda Zolic-Karlsson ◽  
John Håkon Williksen ◽  
Torstein Husby ◽  
Jan Erik Madsen ◽  
...  

Aims The purpose was to compare operative treatment with a volar plate and nonoperative treatment of displaced distal radius fractures in patients aged 65 years and over in a cost-effectiveness analysis. Methods A cost-utility analysis was performed alongside a randomized controlled trial. A total of 50 patients were randomized to each group. We prospectively collected data on resource use during the first year post-fracture, and estimated costs of initial treatment, further operations, physiotherapy, home nursing, and production loss. Health-related quality of life was based on the Euro-QoL five-dimension, five-level (EQ-5D-5L) utility index, and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were calculated. Results The mean QALYs were 0.05 higher in the operative group during the first 12 months (p = 0.260). The healthcare provider costs were €1,533 higher per patient in the operative group: €3,589 in the operative group and 2,056 in the nonoperative group. With a suggested willingness to pay of €27,500 per QALY there was a 45% chance for operative treatment to be cost-effective. For both groups, the main costs were related to the primary treatment. The primary surgery was the main driver of the difference between the groups. The costs related to loss of production were high in both groups, despite high rates of retirement. Retirement rate was unevenly distributed between the groups and was not included in the analysis. Conclusion Surgical treatment was not cost-effective in patients aged 65 years and older compared to nonoperative treatment of displaced distal radius fractures in a healthcare perspective. Costs related to loss of production might change this in the future if the retirement age increases. Level of evidence: II Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(12):1027–1034.


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