Intramedullary nailing for correction of post-traumatic deformity in late-diagnosed distal radius fractures

Management of Extra-Articular and Intra-Articular Distal Radius Malunion

This article presents a comprehensive overview of managing extra-articular and intra-articular distal radius malunions (DRM), discussing the pathoanatomy, clinical, and radiologic evaluation, conservative treatment, and surgical strategies. Corrective osteotomy remains the primary surgical intervention for symptomatic DRM. Surgical planning should consider factors such as timing, approach, correction technique, implant, graft, and associated injuries. The correction of extra-articular malunion necessitates brachioradialis tenotomy, circumferential periosteum release, and intrafocal elevation with grafting to facilitate distal radius realignment following osteotomy. Computer-assisted planning with 3D-printed patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) could help execute extra-articular osteotomy with high precision. As for the management of intra-articular malunion, it may require wrist arthrotomy, arthroscopy, or PSI assistance for precise articular osteotomy and reduction of the joint surface. This review highlights the importance of early intervention, thorough preoperative planning, and appropriate surgical techniques to optimize outcomes and minimize complications. Future research should focus on large-scale randomized controlled trials to compare different surgical methods, particularly for intra-articular DRM.

Treatment options in extra-articular distal radius fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This systematic literature review aimed to make a detailed overview on the clinical and functional outcomes and to get insight into the possible superiority of a treatment method for extra-articular distal radius fractures.

METHODS

Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for studies describing treatment results. Five treatment modalities were compared: plaster cast immobilization, K-wire fixation, volar plating, external fixation, and intramedullary fixation.

RESULTS

Out of 7,054 screened studies, 109 were included in the analysis. Overall complication rate ranged from 9% after plaster cast treatment to 18.5% after K-wire fixation. For radiographic outcomes, only volar tilt in the plaster cast group was lower than in the other groups. Apart from better grip strength after volar plating, no clear functional differences were found across treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

Current literature does not provide uniform evidence to prove superiority of a particular treatment method when looking at complications, re-interventions, and long-term functional outcomes.

Intramedullary nailing and plating osteosynthesis in the correction of post-traumatic deformity in late-diagnosed distal radius fractures: a retrospective comparison study

BACKGROUND

Various surgical modalities are available for correction of deformity in late-diagnosed distal radius fractures. This study compared surgical outcomes between intramedullary nailing and plating osteosynthesis in open-wedge osteotomy.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 47 unilateral distal radius fractures that underwent open-wedge osteotomy at more than 4 weeks after injury between 2006 and 2011. A locally resected exuberant callus was used as the bone graft. Two types of fixation were used: intramedullary nail in 22 patients (group A) and locking plate in 25 patients (group B). Radiographic analysis including radial height, radial inclination, and volar tilt were performed preoperatively and 2-year postoperatively. The Modified Mayo Wrist Score (MMWS) was used for functional evaluation and a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) for residual pain assessment. Patient satisfaction was self-reported as a 5-point scale. Radiographic data, functional outcomes, and surgical complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

All fractures achieved bone union without major complications. The MMWS averaged 84.8 ± 9.7 in group A and 85.2 ± 8.4 in group B, without significant differences (p = 0.436). Instead, significant differences were found in mean wrist flexion (73.6 ± 7.9 vs. 69.6 ± 7.8 degrees; p = 0.042), patient satisfaction (3.6 ± 1.1 vs. 2.9 ± 1.2; p = 0.034), postoperative radial height (11.6 ± 2.6 vs. 10.2 ± 3 mm; p = 0.039) and inclination (20.8 ± 2.8 vs. 17.7 ± 4.1 degrees; p = 0.004), and implant-related complications (9% vs. 36%; p = 0.03). There were no significant differences in other assessment items including postoperative grip strength, pain scale, supination/pronation/extension, volar tilt, correction angles of all three parameters, and general complication rate. Four patients in group A (18%) and 2 in group B (8%) experienced postoperative paresthesia of the surgical hand; no significant difference was noted. All except one patient in group B had full recovery of neurological symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Open-wedge osteotomy with either an intramedullary nail or locking plate fixation yielded encouraging radiographic and functional outcomes. Intramedullary nail fixation may facilitate restoration of radial height and inclination with better wrist flexion, less implant-related complications, and greater patient satisfaction.

Combined navigated drilling and arthroscopy facilitate minimally invasive surgical treatment of ulnar-radial joint dislocation caused by epiphyseal premature closure: A case report

RATIONALE

In this paper, the efficacy and safety of using navigated drilling and arthroscopy (NDA) to assist surgery for ulnar-radial joint dislocation caused by epiphyseal premature closure (EPC) are described. Deformity correction surgery was mentioned in the literature, but there were numerous complications, for example, poor correction, infection, neurovascular injury, osteofascial compartment syndrome, failure of internal fixation, and nonunion after osteotomy. In order to minimize surgical complications, we utilized navigated drilling to finish accuracy bone bridge resection and applied arthroscopy to assess wrist lesions.

PATIENT CONCERNS

An 11-year-old male patient showed swelling and pain of the left wrist.

DIAGNOSES

The patient was diagnosed with a postoperative of Kirschner wire internal fixation for epiphyseal injury, left lower ulnar-radial joint dislocation, left wrist deformity, and EPC.

INTERVENTIONS

A NDA was used to assist the bone bridge resection in this patient.

OUTCOMES

Pain was relieved clearly in the patient. Dorsiflexion increased from 60.8° to 85.3°, palmar flexion increased from 45.3° to 65.8°, supination increased from 41.3° to 69.5°, and pronation increased from 31.6° to 62.9°. The preoperative disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score was 86.1, which was increased to 16.4 postoperatively. Surgery designing lasted for 2 minutes, bone bridge resection lasted for 56 minutes, and fluoroscopic time was 2.4 minutes. Complications, for example, neurological injury, vascular injury, infection and deformity aggressive, were not found during the 5-month follow up.

LESSONS

The outcome of the present study suggests that the NDA maximizes the bone bridge resection accuracy in EPC treatment, which is made efficient by reducing surgical trauma and avoiding neurovascular injury. An experience was gained that in the process of bone bridge removal, the bit of navigated drill should be continuously washed with normal saline to cool down, so as to avoid damage of nerve caused by heat conduction.

Long-term results of elastic-stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) of diaphyseal forearm fractures in children

Since its introduction by Metaizeau and Prevot, elastic-stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) has been used for almost all diaphyseal fractures in children. Here, we present a retrospective study analyzing the long-term results of ESIN of forearm fractures in children.A total of 122 patients with diaphyseal forearm fractures and single subtypes in childhood were treated from 2000 to 2007 at our University Hospital by ESIN. At follow-up, the current conditions of the patients were evaluated using the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Score, and the Mayo Wrist score. Moreover, an individual questionnaire with 16 items was used to collect further information about the patient's condition and limitations as adults.The evaluation was performed at 12.4 years (average) after surgery. In our study population (n = 90), the average DASH scores for sports, performing arts, and work were 0.4 (standard deviation: 1.45), 0.9 (standard deviation: 5.68), and 0.3 (standard deviation: 7.39), respectively. Furthermore, 77% of our patients achieved a DASH Score of 0 (optimum outcome). The average Mayo Wrist Score was 97.64 (standard deviation: 7.39), and 82% of the study population achieved a score of 100 (optimum outcome). A correlation between the DASH and Mayo Wrist Scores was found in few patients. Overall, the DASH Score, Mayo Wrist Score, and results of our individual questionnaire demonstrated convincing point values.This study demonstrated favorable long-term results achieved by ESIN of forearm fractures in children. It seems that good outcomes, reported by various studies with short- to mid-term follow-up beforehand, do not deteriorate over time.Level of Evidence: Level III; retrospective study; therapeutic study.

Fixation of unstable distal radius fractures by using expandable Intramedullary nailing system in adult patients

Objective

To present our experience on intramedullary nailing device Sonoma Wrx (Sonoma Orthopedic Products Inc., Santa Rosa, CA, USA) used for internal fixation of extra-articular or simple intra-articular distal radius fractures in adult population.

Methods

This study was conducted from February 2011 to October 2016. A total of 48 patients (mean age 47.3±5.6 years, 35.4% females) with distal radius fracture, who underwent intramedullary distal radius fixation by using Sonoma Wrx were included in this retrospective study. Clinical outcome measures (range of motion [ROM], visual analog scale [VAS]), functional outcomes (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [DASH] score and Gartland-Werley score), radiographic scores (Stewart score) and parameters (radial inclination, volar tilt, radial height, radio-ulnar variance) and complications were evaluated.

Results

The total surgery time was 24.3±2.3 minutes. Patients were followed up for 24.7±3.4 weeks. Complete fracture union was obtained at 5.5±0.9 weeks. The postoperative low VAS pain score (1.6±0.93) and high ROM values (76.7° for extension, 78.5° for supination, 80.1° for flexion, and 82.3° for pronation) indicated a very good clinical outcome. DASH score of 8.3±1.5 and Gartland-Werley score of 2.8±4.1 showed good functional outcome. The radiographic Stewart score was 1.0±1.2. Radial inclination, volar tilt, and radial height significantly increased (p<0.001), and radio-ulnar variance decreased (p=0.001) with surgery. No postoperative complication was recorded in 40 patients (83.3%).

Conclusions

Sonoma Wrx, which is an expansible intramedullary elastic locking distal radius nail, offers a good alternative technique for internal fixation of unstable distal radius fractures with the advantage of minimum soft-tissue dissection and related postoperative complications.

Use of Volar Locking Plate Versus Intramedullary Nailing for Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes of volar plate versus intramedullary nailing for fixation of distal radius fractures.

Material/Methods

This retrospective study included 64 patients with extra-articular and simple intra-articular fractures of the distal radius who underwent intramedullary fixation using volar locking plate (n=35, mean age 47.3±16.4 years, 82.9% female) or intramedullary nailing (n=29, mean age 51.3±10.1 years, 58.6% female). Outcome measures were range of motion (ROM); visual analog scale (VAS); Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score; Gartland-Werley score; Stewart score; and radiographic findings.

Results

Time to fracture union was 5.5±1.2 and 5.2±0.6 weeks after volar plate fixation and intramedullary nailing, respectively (p>0.05). Compared to volar plate fixation, intramedullary nailing provided better restoration of volar tilt (6.9±6.3° vs. 9.4±1.6°, p=0.004) and wrist flexion (74.3±15.1° vs. 67.9±13.1°, p=0.003). However, volar plate fixation was significantly better in restoration of supination (85.0±8.3° vs. 81.9±5.1°, p=0.001) and radio-ulnar variance (0.7±0.8 mm vs. 1.1±0.9 mm, p=0.05), DASH score (9.2± 9.0 vs. 15.0 ±3.3, p=0.035), and Gartland-Werley score (1.8±0.9 vs. 4.9±5.4, p=0.004). Volar plate and intramedullary nailing groups were comparable with respect to Stewart score (1.5±0.7 and 1.6±1.3, p>0.05) and complication rates (34.3% vs. 37.9%, p>0.05).

Conclusions

Both volar plate fixation and intramedullary nail fixation provide good clinical and radiographic outcomes for primarily extra-articular or simple intra-articular distal radius fractures. As intramedullary nailing provides better restoration of volar tilt and wrist flexion, volar plate fixation provides better restoration of radio-ulnar variance and wrist supination.

Use of Different Methods of Intramedullary Nailing for Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures: A Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Radiological Outcomes

BACKGROUND We aimed to evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcomes of using Sonoma WRx versus Micronail intramedullary nailing for the fixation of distal radius fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 68 patients with primarily extra-articular and simple intra-articular fractures of the distal radius who underwent intramedullary distal radius fixation using Sonoma WRx (n=39) or Micronail (n=29) intramedullary nails were enrolled in the study. The clinical outcome measures included the range of motion (ROM), visual analog scale (VAS), functional outcomes (patient-reported Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand [DASH] score and clinician-based Gartland-Werley score), radiographic scores (Stewart score), and parameters related to the quality of radiographic reduction and complications (radial inclination, volar tilt, radial height, and radio-ulnar variance). RESULTS Significantly higher DASH (15.0±3.3 vs. 8.3±1.5, p<0.001) and Gartland-Werley (4.9±5.4 vs. 2.9±4.2, p=0.029) scores, longer scopy time (21.0±3.9 min vs. 15.8±2.5 min, p<0.001), lower ROM for wrist extension (69.5±4.4° vs. 77.1±7.6°, p<0.001), higher ROM for wrist supination (81.9±5.1° vs. 78.7±3.1°, p<0.001), and higher complications rates (37.9% vs. 15.4%, p=0.034) were noted in the Micronail group compared to those in the Sonoma WRx group. CONCLUSIONS Our findings revealed that Sonoma WRx and Micronail implants were equally effective and useful minimally invasive options for treating distal radius fractures. Further, we consider Sonoma WRx superior in terms of shorter operative time, lower complication rates, and better functional outcome scores.