Abstract
The goal of this prospective study was to evaluate the real-life experience of 52 patients and their recovery kinetics in the first 6 weeks after surgical treatment of distal radius fractures. The fractures were treated with either a fourth-generation volar locking plate (34 patients, mean age 67 years, range 54-82) or by percutaneous pinning (18 patients, mean age 56 years, range 43-69). These patients were evaluated every week for 6 weeks with the QuickDASH (QD) questionnaire. A lower QD score indicated that the patient's physical function and symptoms had improved. At postoperative week 1, all the patients who had undergone percutaneous pinning had a QD of 80 (out of 100). One-third of patients who had undergone plate fixation had a QD of 80, while the remainder had a QD of 65. Out of all the patients who had a QD of 80 at postoperative week 1, the patients who had undergone plate fixation improved more quickly. After 6 weeks, the patients who had undergone plate fixation had a greater reduction in the QD (50 points) than the ones who had undergone pinning (30 points). Although the direct costs of locking plate fixation are 10 times higher than those of K-wire pinning, evidence suggests that these plates reduce the indirect costs. This study has shown that a patient's recovery rate, day-to-day life and physical function are better over the first 6 weeks postsurgery when the distal radius fracture is fixed with a locking plate.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.