Comparative study between closed reduction and cast application versus percutaneous K- wire fixation for extra-articular fracture distal end of radius

Abstract

Introduction: Distal radius fracture is extremely common and represents 16% of fractures treated by orthopaedic surgeons. Near anatomical reduction with restoration of radial length, radial tilt and ulnar variances are important for good functional results. A variety of treatment options have been proposed for distal radius fracture closed reduction and immbolization in cast has been the main stay of treatment, but because it invariably results in malunion, poor functional outcome and cosmetic outcome, other modality of treatment were brought into practice like percutaneous intrafocal pinning, transulnar percutaneous pinning, external fixation, plating etc. This comparative study was to compare the clinical outcomes of closed reduction with cast and closed reduction with Percutaneous Kirschner wiring. Materials and Method: Prospective study was conducted on 60 patients attending the Department of Orthopaedics, from December 2017 to May 2019 with extra-articular fractures (AO type 23-A2 and 23-A3) of distal radius and fulfilling all the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The cases were randomly divided into two equal groups of 30 patients, the first group treated by closed reduction and below elbow cast application, while the second group were treated by closed reduction percutaneous K-wire application and below elbow cast application. The radiological outcome of both groups were evaluated by measuring the Volar inclination, Radial inclination and Radial height, while the functional outcome was evaluated by the demerit scoring system of Gartland and Werley. Result: The Cast application group had 13 excellent, 9 good, 7 fair and 1 poor result the mean outcome score of the group was 5.2. The K wiring group had 11 excellent, 13 good, 5 fair and 1 poor result, the mean score of the group was 5.17. The unpaired student's t-test on the values obtained from both groups yielded a p-value of 0.9816. The mean radial height in the Cast application group was 8.033mm while the mean in the k wiring group was 11.783mm. The mean volar tilt was 4.867 degrees and 7.5 degrees respectively. The mean radial inclination was 14.23 degrees and 19.1respectively. Unpaired student's ttest on the values revealed a p-value of 0.0001 for all three. Conclusion:We concluded that closed reduction with percutaneous K-wire fixation under C-arm for treatment of extra articular fractures of distal radius gives statistically significantly better radiological outcome than treatment with closed reduction and casting alone, but there is no statistically significant difference in functional outcome.