Abstract: Background: In Colles’ fracture closed reduction and POP cast application has been the mainstay of treatment, difficulty lies in predicting and maintaining the proper reduction due to dorsal communition of fracture. Percutaneous K-wire stabilization is also a widely accepted treatment option for continued maintenance of reduction till fracture union. But there is no consensus on its outcome in comparison to closed reduction and cast application.
Objectives: To evaluate the results of closed reduction and cast application vs closed reduction with percutaneous K-Wire fixation in the treatment of the distal radius extra-articular fractures.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 60 patients from September 2017 to April 2019 with extra-articular fractures of distal radius. The cases were randomly divided into two equal groups of 30 patients, group A and B, the first group treated by closed reduction and below elbow cast,while the second group were treated by closed reduction percutaneous K-wire application. The results of both groups were evaluated radiologically and functionally as per our protocol.
Results: At 6 months postoperatively, according to Gartland and Werley, Group A we had 13(43%) excellent results, 9(30%) good results, 7(23%) fair results and 1(3%) poor results. In group B, 11(36%) excellent results, 13(43%) good results, 5 (16%) fair results and 1(3%) poor results. Our study demonstrates that there is no significant difference in the functional outcome obtained with closed reduction and cast versus closed reduction, K-wire fixation and cast. However, K-wire fixation plays a role in maintaining post-operative reduction and to achieve near normal anatomical union.
Conclusion: Colles’ fracture treated by percutaneous K-wire fixation along with below elbow cast provided additional stability and good radiological outcome in comparison to patients treated with closed reduction and below elbow cast alone. However, closed reduction and cast application alone gives same functional outcome as K-wire fixation.
