Comparative Analysis of Functional and Radiological Outcomes in Comminuted Distal Radius Fractures: Variable Angle Locking Plate vs External Fixation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The longer-lasting wrist deformity negatively impacted wrist motion and hand function, reducing the mechanical advantage of the extrinsic hand musculature.6 It causes pain, restricted forearm motion, and decreased grip strength due to arthrosis of the distal radioulnar and radiocarpal joints (Table 1).7 To ensure more constant displacement correction and reduction maintenance, the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with volar plating was created.While bone grafting is an IntroductIonDistal radius fractures, which make up >16% of all fractures, are the most frequent upper-limb fractures encountered in emergency rooms.Distal radial fractures are more common in younger individuals due to high-energy trauma, whereas low-energy trauma is more common in older individuals.Because older women have a higher risk of falls and more severe osteoporosis than older men, women are more likely than men to suffer from distal radius fractures.1,2 These challenges do not affect low-demand patients or the elderly because of their modest functional and physical demands.Anatomic reduction is generally recommended for younger and high-demand elderly patients who have intra-or extra-articular fractures (due to early mobilization and a protracted healing period).Joint movement should be the main focus for low-demand elderly patients who have a severely displaced intraarticular fracture or median nerve compression, but surgery is still necessary in this case.3,4 The conventional approach to treating radius fractures has been closed reduction and immobilization with cast; however, this commonly leads to fracture malunion and a displaced distal radioulnar joint, which have a negative impact on the patient's functional, radiological, and cosmetic outcomes.
Institution: Kamineni Hospitals
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7130514204