A safer pin position for external fixation of distal radial fractures

Safe approach for fixation of first metacarpal fractures: an anatomical study

This anatomical study defines a safe zone for percutaneous or minimally invasive fixation of first metacarpal fractures in order to avoid injury of the superficial branch of the radial nerve and the dorsal branch of the radial artery. The courses of the nerve and artery branches were marked in 20 embalmed cadaver specimens. With computer-assisted surgical anatomy mapping, a large diversity in the anatomical patterns for the nerve and a consistent pattern for the artery were found. Based on these findings, we conclude that transfixation of the first and the second metacarpals with K-wires placed in the distal 75% of both the first and second metacarpals is the safest way to avoid damages to the nerve and artery branches during fracture fixation.

Complications after distal radius fracture surgery: results from a Swedish nationwide registry study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate complications after distal radius fracture surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective registry study.

SETTING

Nationwide registry study.

PATIENTS

A total of 36,618 patients who underwent surgery because of a distal radius fracture during the period from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2009 were followed from the date of operation until the occurrence of either reoperation, a new distal radius fracture, death, or December 31, 2010, whichever occurred first.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

The occurrence of reoperations after different surgical methods is presented as proportions, incidence rates, and in a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis curve. Types and distributions of complications are presented for pinning, external fixation (EF), and plating, respectively.

RESULTS

The incidence of reoperation after fracture surgery using EF, pins, and plating was 100 [95% confidence interval (CI): 93-107], 140 (95% CI: 127-153), and 222 (95% CI: 207-237) per 10,000 person years, respectively. After stratified analysis adjusting for age and gender, the differences remained significant when comparing plating with EF (P = 0.001) and pinning (P = 0.01). Pinning and EF patients displayed an earlier onset of the complications when compared with plated patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of reoperation was higher for patients treated with a plate than for patients treated with pins or EF. The timing of the reoperations differed in that pinning and EF patients displayed an earlier onset when compared with plated patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Avoiding and treating perioperative complications of distal radius fractures

Numerous methods of treatment are available for the management of distal radius fractures, with modern trends favoring volar fixed-angle distal radius plates. Whatever the method of fixation, recognition, management, and prevention of the known associated complications are essential to achieve a good outcome. This article reviews the common preventable complications that are associated with operative treatment of distal radius fractures, including tendon injuries, inadequate reduction, subsidence or collapse, intra-articular placement of pegs or screws, nerve injuries, complex regional pain syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, and compartment syndrome.

Intraoperative distraction in the upper extremity

Intraoperative distraction aids in the restoration of length, facilitates reduction, assists in maintaining rotational alignment, and provides a temporary stable platform for definitive fixation of acute fractures, malunions, and nonunions. This technique has been described at length in the lower extremity; however, there is a paucity of literature regarding its use in the upper extremity. Distraction is the application of tension across a fracture site. Proximal and distal fixation may be achieved in several ways, with common instrumentation including the use of an external fixator set. Intraoperative distraction may be invaluable in the treatment of displaced fractures of the upper extremity. The objective of this paper was to detail the technique of intraoperative distraction in the surgical treatment of fractures of the clavicle, humerus, radius, and ulna.

External fixation of distal radius fractures

External fixation has been used for the treatment of distal radius fractures for more than 50 years. Although the fixator configurations have undergone considerable modification over time, the type of fixator itself is not as important as the underlying principles that provide the foundation for external fixation. Although volar plate fixation is currently in vogue, the indications for external fixation remain largely unchanged. Newer fixator designs have also expanded the traditional usage to include nonbridging applications that allow early wrist motion. The following discussion focuses on the myriad uses for external fixation as well as the shortcomings and potential pitfalls.

Treatment of external fixation pins about the wrist: a prospective, randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Pin-track infection remains one of the most troublesome complications of external fixation, in some cases compromising otherwise successful fracture treatment.

METHODS

One hundred and eighteen patients (120 wrists) who had been managed with the placement of an external fixation device for the treatment of a displaced, unstable, distal radial fracture were randomized into one of three treatment groups: (1) weekly dry dressing changes without pin-site care; (2) daily pin-site care with a solution of one-half normal saline solution and one-half hydrogen peroxide; and (3) treatment with the placement of chlorhexidine-impregnated discs (Biopatch) around the pins, with weekly changes of the discs by the treating surgeon. The patients were followed at weekly intervals until the external fixator was removed. Radiographs were made biweekly. The patients were evaluated with regard to (1) erythema, (2) cellulitis, (3) drainage, (4) clinical or radiographic evidence of pin-loosening, (5) the need for antibiotics, and (6) the need for pin removal before fracture-healing due to infection. Differences in complication rates among the three groups, with adjustment for patient age, gender, and the performance of an associated open procedure, were evaluated.

RESULTS

The average age of the patients was fifty-four years. Forty-seven wrists had an open procedure (either bone-grafting or open reduction and internal fixation) in addition to treatment with the external fixator. The fixators remained in place for an average of 5.9 weeks. Twenty-three patients (19%) had a complication related to the pin track, with twelve of these patients requiring oral antibiotics for the treatment of a pin-track infection. There were no significant differences among the three groups with regard to the prevalence of pin-site complications. The age of the patient was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of postoperative pin-track complications (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a high rate of local wound complications around external fixation pin sites; however, most complications were minor and could be observed or treated with oral antibiotics. The prevalence of these complications was not decreased in association with the use of hydrogen peroxide wound care or chlorhexidine-impregnated dressings. On the basis of these results, we do not recommend additional wound care beyond the use of dry, sterile dressings for pin-track care after external fixation for the treatment of distal radial fractures.

Nonbridging external fixation of intra-articular distal radius fractures

New solutions to difficult problems are always welcome, but nonbridging external fixation of intra-articular fractures is still in its infancy. Multicenter clinical trials are necessary to deter-mine whether the superior results obtained with nonbridging fixation of extra-articular fractures can be duplicated. With further study and new fixator designs, it is anticipated that nonbridging external fixation of intra-articular distal radius fractures will become another viable treatment option.