Intra-articular fractures of the distal radius: a prospective randomised controlled trial comparing static bridging and dynamic non-bridging external fixation. J Hand Surg [Br

Twenty-two patients with unstable Frykman grade 7 or 8 intra-articular fractures of the distal radius were treated with an external fixator. The distal pins were inserted into the distal radial fracture fragments, permitting movement of the wrist and hand. Eleven patients were male and 11 female, with a mean age of 50 years. All patients had regained full function with good range of motion at mean final follow-up of 12 months. However function, pain and range of motion had returned to acceptable levels 4 weeks after removal of the external fixator. This method of external fixation provides a reliable method of maintaining fracture reduction whilst allowing early return of function. Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume, 1998) 23B: 3:396-399 Treatment of unstable intraarticular fractures of the dis-tal radius remains controversial and confusing, with a wide variety of treatment options. Treatment with exter-nal fixation has yielded satisfactory esults but has often been associated with high complication rates. Traditionally, an external fixator at the wrist is applied in such a way that the device immobilizes both the frac-ture and the wrist joint. These devices have b en associ-ated with complications uch as finger and hand stiffness, median erve neuropathies, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, tendon damage and iatrogenic metacarpa