Functional Outcome for Fragment-Specific Fixation of Distal Radius Fracture – An Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Fractures of the distal radius account for 14% of all fractures to the extremities and 17% of all fractures treated in emergency departments. Materials and Methods: An observational study was done with 62 cases of distal radius fracture from July 2021 to June 2022, where all patients with distal radius fracture more than 18 years of age with the physical fitness of surgery of both genders were included in this study. Patients with neurovascular injury and comatose patients were excluded from the study. All cases were fixed with fragment-specific fixation. The data collection instruments used were Constant–Murley score and QuickDASH score and were followed up for 12 months. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 39.90 ± 10.84 years. Around 45.2% were female and 54.8% were male. Around 74.2% had road traffic accident and 25.8% had slip and falls. Mean palmar flexion in degrees was 56.77 ± 3.51, mean dorsiflexion in degrees was 62.90 ± 3.21, mean radial flexion in degrees was 17.39 ± 3.11, and mean ulnar deviation in degrees was 23.77 ± 3.76. Around 71% had excellent results and 29% had good results. Conclusion: The use of distal radius plating in the treatment of fractures of the distal radius fractures of the wrist has been established as a good and acceptable treatment option.