ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Fractures of the distal
radius continue to be the most common skeletalinjuries treated by the
orthopedic surgeon. Unstable fractures of the distal part of the radiushave shown an inherent tendency towards loss of reduction after non-operative
treatment.External
skeletal fixation has been popular for the
treatment of displaced, unstable fracturesof the distal part of the
radius because it combines a minimally invasive
procedure withreduction by ligamentotaxis.
METHOD:
A
retrospective study of 70
patients of fracture of distal end
radius treated withexternal fixator came to OPD at
tertiary care hospital during the study period of 2 years fromJuly 2020 to June 2022, were included in the study after obtaining permission frominstitutional
review board.
RESULT:
All 70
patients were assessed in the form of the functional and radiologicaloutcome based on Subjective evaluation by Modified Demerit Point System of Gartland andWerley (Functional) and Lidstorm and Frykman Criteria modified by Sarmiento(Anatomical). We obtained “excellent” results in 47.15%; “good” in 35.72% cases; “fair” in14.28% and “poor” in 2.85% cases with a mean G & W score of 6.35.
CONCLUSION:
Finding of this study shows that
external fixator is an easy,
cost effective,reliable and most suitable
treatment in treating intraarticular and unstable extraarticular distalend
radial fractures by the principle of ligamentotaxis.