Abstract: Aim: To compare the functional outcome of comminuted distal end radius fracture treated by Kapandji Technique of percutaneous K-wire fixation and Volar Locking Plate.
Methodology: Present study conducted under the department of Orthopaedics, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad. Study conducted from October 2017 to November 2019. Patients who came to the OPD and emergency department of Osmania General Hospital and have fulfilled the criteria as described below and have given their informed consent for the present study.
Results: A total of 40 patients met the criteria for inclusion. A total of 20 patients were placed into the K-wire group and 20 into the Volar Locking Plate group. Male patients predominated female patients (males =30, females=10) and the mean age of patients was 37.75 years with the range being 23 - 60 years (Table 1). 23 (57.5%) fractures were more common on right side.29 (72.5%) of fractures occurred due to road traffic accident (13 in K wire group and 16 in plate group) while 11(27.5%) fractures occurred due to simple fall (7 in K wire group and 4 in plate group). The mean range of motion of K-wire and VLP group was noted. The radiological assessment was performed at a 6-month interval between the two groups. Radiological assessment showed that the immediate postoperative reduction was better in the plate group than in the K- wire group in terms of radial inclination but there was no statistically significant difference between the plate group and the K-wire group when considering volar tilt and radial length. However, in the K- wire group, there was loss in radial length and fracture alignment in three patients as with comparison with plate group which showed none such incidence.
Conclusion: There was no statistical significant difference between the change of measurements from post-operation to 6 months when comparing the plate and the K- wire groups. All radiographic variables were not statistically significant between the plate group and the K-wire group at 6 months. Patients in the plate group had significantly better functional outcome and 4 patients had stiffness of wrist joint. In K wire group, one patients had loss of reduction after initial fracture fixation, one had pin site infection immediate post-op during treatment phase which was treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
