Abstract:
Question:
The distal radius fracture is the most common fracture and has a high impact of social-economy. There still exists a controversy about the changing of surgical method.
What about the results of several surgical methods at intraarticular distal radius fractures?
Is there any impact on the additional carried out carpal tunnel splitting on these methods?
Methodology:
From January 1999 up to december 2003 a retrospective inspection on 89 patients with intraarticular distal radius fractures (after AO-classification: B and C fractures) has been carried out. 43 patients were treated with plates, 24 patients with carpal tunnel splitting and 19 patients without. The other 46 patients were treated with wire, also 21 patients with carpal tunnel splitting and 25 patients without; for release of the carpal tunnel (nervus medianus). The patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically by standard scores (Castaing, Gartland and Werley). At the follow up special attention was paid to a postoperative or respectively to a still present symptomatic of dystrophy.
Results:
It appeared, that the plate osteosynthetic attended intraarticular distal radius fracture at all used scores in comparison to “minimal invasive” treated fractures, were shown better clinical and radiological results (more than 80% good to excellent results). The due to additional carried out carpal tunnel splitting had a relevant influence. Open fixed and with plates operated fractures without releasing the carpal tunnel, at all scores we got worse results, than with carpal tunnel splitting (about 65% good to excellent results without, compared with over 90% of the fission). The same applies, although on lower level, to both groups with “Kirschner”- wire osteosynthetic operated fractures (about 60% good and excellent results with carpal tunnel splitting, only 45% good and excellent results without the additional operation). There has been no dystrophy at simultaneously carpal tunnel splitting; the rate of dystrophy without carpal tunnel splitting was 12%.
Final conclusion:
The exact, anatomical reposition of the intraarticular distal radiusfracture with following plate osteosynthesis shows up to know the best clinical and radiological results, with greatest satisfaction of the patients.
The additional release of the nervus medianus is useful.
The carpal tunnel splitting should be carried out for the improvement of better clinical results, as well as for plate and wireosteosynthesis.