Plate and screw fixation has been the standard treatment for painful conditions of the wrist in non-rheumatoid patients in recent decades. We investigated the complications, re-operations, and final outcome in a consecutive series of patients who underwent wrist arthrodesis for non-inflammatory arthritis. A total of 76 patients, including 53 men and 23 women, with a mean age of 50 years (21 to 79) underwent wrist arthrodesis. Complications and re-operations were recorded. At a mean follow-up of 11 years (2 to 18), 63 patients completed questionnaires, and 57 attended for clinical and radiological assessment.Aims
Patients and Methods
There is no consensus on the benefit of arthroscopically
assisted reduction of the articular surface combined with fixation
using a volar locking plate for the treatment of intra-articular
distal radial fractures. In this study we compared the functional
and radiographic outcomes of fluoroscopically and arthroscopically
guided reduction of these fractures. Between February 2009 and May 2013, 74 patients with unilateral
unstable intra-articular distal radial fractures were randomised
equally into the two groups for treatment. The mean age of these
74 patients was 64 years (24 to 92). We compared functional outcomes
including active range of movement of the wrist, grip strength and Disabilities
of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores at six and 48 weeks; and radiographic
outcomes that included gap, step, radial inclination, volar angulation
and ulnar variance. There were no significant differences between the techniques
with regard to functional outcomes or radiographic parameters. The
mean gap and step in the fluoroscopic and arthroscopic groups were
comparable at 0.9 mm (standard deviation Arthroscopic reduction conferred no advantage over conventional
fluoroscopic guidance in achieving anatomical reduction of intra-articular
distal radial fractures when using a volar locking plate. Cite this article:
