The Hub of an External Fixation Device for Early Mobilization of the Wrist in the Treatment of Distal Radial Epimetaphyseal Fractures

摘要

The incidence of fractures of the distal epimeta-physis of the radius (DEMR) reaches 260 per 100,000 members of the population per year, which amounts to 75% of forearm bone fractures and 8-17% of all limb fractures [1]. Depending on the method of treatment -conservative or surgical - the incidence of complications and unsatisfactory outcomes ranges from 6% to 80% [2]. The challenge of treating distal radial epimetaphyseal fractures consists of shunting displacing forces after repositioning of the fragments with simultaneous unloading of the joint surfaces until consolidation. Existing treatment methods do not fully satisfy these requirements. Thus, external fixation and diafixation, stabilizing the fragments and allowing relatively early activation of movements at the radiocarpal joint, do not unload the joint surfaces. External fixator devices, solving the challenge of unloading the wrist joint, do not allow movements before the moment of unmounting. Nonetheless, on qualitative repositioning of fragments, use of an external fixator gives better functional outcomes than internal fixation [3, 4].