Introduction: To improve the therapeutic results for AO type C intraarticular distal radius fractures in young and middle-aged patients, it is important to achieve and maintain anatomical reduction, and evaluate and treat soft-tissue injuries. We previously employed arthroscopically assisted reduction and percutaneous pinning (ARPP) combined with external fixation. Since 2003, we have employed ARPP combined with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using volar locking plates.

Methods: The subjects were twenty-six patients under 60 years old. The patients comprised thirteen men and thirteen women aged from 16 to 57 (mean 43.5) years. The type of fracture according to the AO classification was C1 in six patients, C2 in ten, and C3 in ten. The follow-up period was 12–18 (mean 13.5) months. The radial inclination (RI), volar tilt (VT), and ulnar variance (UV) were measured radiographically at the time of injury, immediately after surgery, and at final evaluation. The Mayo wrist score was used for clinical evaluation.

Results: Union was achieved in all patients. The triangular-fibrocartilage complex injury was detected in nineteen patients, the scapholunate-interosseous ligament injury in twenty-three, and the lunotriquetral-interosseous ligament injury in nineteen. Radiographic evaluation showed that the mean RI, VT, and UV at presentation, immediately after surgery, and at final evaluation was 12.8, 21.0, and 20.9 degrees, −15.4, 9.7, and 9.6 degrees, and 3.10, 0.30, and 0.35 mm, respectively. The Mayo wrist score averaged 87.6 points.

Conclusion: Although treatment of AO type C intraarticular distal radius fractures is difficult, ARPP combined with ORIF achieved relatively good results.