Comparison of fluoroscopically and arthroscopically assisted volar plating of articular distal radius fractures

Abstract

The article presents the results of a retrospective study that included 70 patients with intraarticular (AO Type C [Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen]) distal radius fractures, who were treated using an arthroscopically assisted approach with volar locking plates or just a fluoroscopically assisted surgery. Thirty-seven of them were treated using volar locking plates using only fluoroscopically guided surgery and 33 patients were treated with the arthroscopically assisted fracture fixation method. Data of the patients who attended a full cycle of the postoperative observation within the first year after the surgery and postponed to the last visit 1 to 5 years after the surgery were included in the analysis for both groups. Postoperative analysis was carried out using X-ray assessment, clinical data, patient-rated wrist evaluation score, Gartland and Werley score, Modern Activity Subjective Survey of 2007 score, range of motion, grip, pinch and tripod pinch assessment at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Despite the statistically significant differences found in a number of parameters during the follow-up period, there were no clinically relevant differences determined between the two methods in the long-term period. There was a greater arch of motions in extension and radial deviation in the arthroscopic surgery group. Duration of the surgery was longer in the arthroscopic surgery group, but comminuted or AO-C3 type fractures also were more often presented in this group. One complex regional pain syndrome occurred in the arthroscopic surgery group and two in the control group. None of patients suffered tendon ruptures, hardware migration or infections.