INTRA-ARTICULAR DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURES

Objectives: To determine functional outcome of percutaneous Kirschner wirefixation and short arm cast in intra-articular distal radius fractures in patients of 20-70 years.Study Design: Descriptive case series. Setting: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, DowUniversity of Health Sciences / Civil Hospital Karachi. Period: 1st April, 2013 to 30th September,2013. Methods: A total of 62 patients with closed type III distal fractures according to Frykmanclassification were included in this study. Patient lying in supine position and after generalanesthesia, closed reduction was done with the forearm in prone position, aiming to restorenormal anatomical position. Two Kirschner wires were inserted from radial styloid process inparallel and oblique fashion to the medial cortex of the radius and one transversely from lateralto medial for intra-articular fragments. Final functional outcome was assessed after 12 weeks ofsurgery and recorded on pre-designed Proforma. Results: Acceptable functional outcome ofpercutaneous Kirschner wire fixation and short arm cast in intra-articular distal radius fractureswas observed in 80.65% (50/62) cases. Conclusions: It is concluded that functional outcomeof percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation and short arm cast procedure is satisfactory in intraarticulardistal radius fractures and it appears to be an easy, technically less demanding andeffective method for stabilization, so this procedure can be applied for patients with thesefractures.