Submitting Author:
Dr. Kamal Bali,
Registrar, Orthopedics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India - India
Competing Interests:
The authors do not have any competing interests
with stable fractures underwent closed reduction and scoring method of Stewart et al 11 (Table 2) was used
cast. Those with unstable fractures underwent closed to assess the fracture reduction.
reduction, K-wire fixation and cast application.
For patients undergoing closed reduction and cast Results
application (Fig 1), the patient was positioned supine
on the operating table. The surgeon grasped the
injured hand and disimpacted the fragments by firm A total of 41 patients with Colles’ fracture managed at
longitudinal traction. An assistant provided the Dept. of Orthopaedics from June 2004 to June
counter-traction by grasping the arm above the flexed 2005 were studied. Of these, 3 cases were excluded
elbow. Steady traction corrected the dorsal from the study. (1 had bilateral Colles’ fracture, 1 had
displacement. This was followed by palmar flexion and associated ipsilateral humerus fracture and 1 was a
ulnar deviation of the wrist with the forearm in compound injury). Group I, which included patients
pronation. Reduction was confirmed using an image who underwent closed reduction and cast application,
intensifier. Three point fixation was obtained in a well had 20 patients. Group II (closed reduction, K-wire
moulded plaster cast which was applied to maintain fixation and cast) had 18 patients. The patients were
the wrist in the desired position. For comminuted followed up immediately post-op, at 3 weeks, 6 weeks,
fractures an above elbow cast was given. Stable 3 months and 9 months. 5 patients from group I and 3
fractures were given a below elbow cast. Active finger patients from group II were lost to follow-up. These
mobilization, shoulder exercises and elbow patients were also excluded from the study. The final
mobilization (in patients with short arm casts) were analysis was performed on 30 patients, closed
started immediately postoperatively. A long arm cast reduction and cast (Group I) with 15 patients and
was converted to short arm cast at 3 weeks which was K-wire and cast (Group II), also with 15 patients.
continued for another 3 weeks. Total duration of The mean age at injury was 38.5 ± 13.75 yrs for males
casting was 6 weeks. and 46.70 ± 8.37 yrs for females. The age ranged
In the percutaneous pinning group (Fig 2), the limb from 21 to 59 years for the whole group and 21 yrs to
was prepared and draped before closed reduction. 58 yrs for males and 32 yrs to 59 yrs for females.
The fracture was reduced in the manner described There was no statistically significant difference in age
above and then fixed using two smooth Kirschner between the patients with different types of distal
wires. The wires were inserted through small stab radius fractures according to the Universal
incisions under fluoroscopic control. One wire was Classification (p> 0.503). The female to male ratio was
inserted from the styloid process of the radius directed 2:1 with 20 females and 10 males. The dominant side
proximally and medially through the fracture site . The was involved in 17/30 (56.6%) patients whereas the
other wire was passed from the lateral border of the non dominant side was involved in 13/30 (43.3%)
radius in a proximal to distal direction to engage the patients. The distribution of the injuries according to
ulnar aspect of the distal fragment. Both wires the Universal Classification System is shown in Table
engaged the opposite cortex. In 2 cases the second 3. Majority of patients in both the groups were in
wire was passed through the dorso-ulnar border of the Universal Classification type 4.
distal fragment in a distal to proximal direction. The post-op functional scores in both groups showed
Damage to the superficial branch of the radial nerve improvement over time (Table 4). There was however
and the extensor tendons was minimized by blunt no statistically significant difference in the post-op
dissection to the bone. The pins were left protruding function scores between the two groups (p=0.267). In
percutaneously, dressed and the fracture was then Group I ( closed reduction and cast) , the anatomical
immobilized in a well moulded long arm cast. It was scores showed worsening in 5 out of 15 cases (Table
converted to a short arm cast at 3 weeks. The wires 5). The anatomical scores improved after surgery and
and cast were removed after 6 weeks. Active finger remained the same post operatively in all but 2 cases
mobilization and shoulder exercises were begun in Group II. There was worsening after 3 weeks in one
immediately postoperatively. and after 3 months in the other. However, the
Patients treated were followed up at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, difference between the two groups was not statistically
3 months and 9 months in the Orthopaedics OPD. significant (p= 0.412). The correlation between
Clinico-radiological assessment of the patients was pre-operative anatomical score and post-operative
performed at each follow-up visit. Functional scoring functional scores at 6 weeks, 3 weeks and 9 months
was done using the Gartland and Werley 9 scoring was investigated. However, there was no statistically
scale (Table 1). The radiographs of the wrist joint of significant correlation between pre-operative
the patients were evaluated and the anatomical anatomical score and post-operative functional scores
Illustrations
Illustration 1
Tables
Dorsiflexion <45 5
Palmar flexion <30 1
Ulnar deviation <25 3
Radial deviation <15 1
Supination <50 2
Pronation <50 2
Circumduction loss 1
Finger flexion Not to distal crease 1-2
Grip Loss of strength 1
Radial / Median neuritis Mild- severe 1-3
Poor >15
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Group I Group II
Excellent 2 12 4 13
Good 1 12 3 1 9 2
Fair 11 1 7 2
Poor 3 7
WebmedCentral > Research articles Page 7 of 13
n= number of patients
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Table 5 Showing Anatomical scores at 6 weeks, 3 months and 9 months post-operatively for
Group I ( cast alone) and Group II ( K wire and cast)
Group Group
I II
Excellent 14 9 9 9 14 13 12 12
Good 1 6 6 6 1 1 2 2
Fair 1 1 1
Poor
n = number of patients
Illustration 2
Figures
Fig 1 a,b pre-op radiographs showing stable extra articular distal radius fracture
Fig 2 a,b radiographs showing unstable, comminuted intra-articular distal radius fracture
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