Adjuvant Arthroscopy Does Not Improve the Functional Outcome of Volar Locking Plate for Distal Radius Fractures: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Editorial Commentary: Supplemental Wrist Arthroscopy May Not Be the Key to Improving Outcomes in Surgical Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures

For decades, the surgical treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures has relied on indirect reduction. The goal is to mitigate the articular stepoff that has been associated with radiographic progression of arthritic changes. Continued advances in wrist arthroscopy give us the opportunity for direct visualization of these reductions, direct assessment of intra-articular screws, and diagnosis and treatment of concomitant soft tissue pathology, including those to the scapholunate interosseous ligament, lunotriquetral interosseous ligament, and the triangular fibrocartilage complex. Despite this, however, supplemental wrist arthroscopy does not appear to improve outcomes at 1 year in patients with distal radius fractures treated with volar locking plates.