Comparison study for treatment of unstable distal radius fractures with two methods

Objective To compare the clinical results of internal fixation with T-shaped plate and closed reduction with application of plaster in treatment of unstable distal radius fractures.Methods A total of 96 patients(103 cases) with unstable distal radius fractures during March 2002 to March 2007 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Among them 42 patients (45 sides) were treated by internal fixation with T-shaped plate, and the others by closed reduction and external fixation with plaster.Results All patients were followed up with the average 33.5 months (range 12 to 63months). According to the Dienst criteria, the excellent and good rate in plate internal fixation group was 86.67%, of which the type A2 A3 is 92.31% and type B C is 84.38%. On the other hand, the number in group of closed reduction and external fixation is 71%,88.20%,63.40% respectively. Furthermore, the difference between type A2 A3 in two groups has no statistically significance (P 0.05),however, it has statistically significance between type B C in two groups(P 0.05).Conclusion No statistical difference between these two methods in treating the type A2 A3 fractures was found. However, the outcome is better in the T-shaped plate internal fixation group than in the closed reduction and external fixation group to type B C fractures.