Use of an external fixation combined with the buttress-maintain pinning method in treating comminuted distal radius fractures in osteoporotic patients.

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to keep the alignment of a distal radius fracture in patients with osteoporosis and prevent malunion. Therefore, we hoped to design better method to maintain alignment. METHODS: Thirty-two patients over 65 years old with a displaced unstable distal radius fracture were treated by the external fixator combined with buttress-maintain pinning method and were compared with a group of 66 patients less than 60 years old treated by the same method. RESULT: The radiologic results demonstrated that postoperative and final radial length and volar tilt were not statistically different between both groups. The functional result (excellent and good) in the elderly group was 87.5% and 89% to that of the control group. There was only one complication of pin tract infection in the elderly group. CONCLUSIONS: External fixation for unstable distal radius fracture combined with buttress-maintain pinning method can be used in the osteoporotic bone of older adults with results similar to those for young adults at 18 months follow-up.