Efficacy Comparison betwwen Locking Compression Plate Fixation from Volar Approach and Non-operation in Treatment of Distal Fracture of Radius in Elderly Patients
WANG Chunyu, ZHONG Xiao, LUO Jian
The First People's Hospital of Ziyang, Sichuan Ziyang 641300, China
Abstract:Objective: To study the clinical efficacy of locking compression plate fixation from volar approach vs. non-operation in treatment of distal fracture of radius in the old. Methods: Totally 71 old patients with distal fracture of radius were selected and divided into observation group (37 patients) and control group (34 patients) according to the wills of the patients. The observation group was treated with locking compression plate fixation from volar approach, while the control group treated with manipulative reduction and plaster external fixation. The conditions of reduction and healing of the fracture were recorded, and the wrist joint functions evaluated by Cooney wrist joint scale. Results: The mean fracture healing times of the observation group and control group were (12.1±2.4) weeks and (14.8±3.2) weeks, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Before treatment, the two groups had insignificantly different palmar tilts, ulnar inclinations, and radial shortening lengths (P>0.05); at 6 months after treatment, both groups had significantly improved palmar tilts, ulnar inclinations, and radial shortening lengths compared with those before treatment, but the observation group had significantly greater improving extents (P<0.05); the observation group had significantly better Cooney wrist joint scores than the control group, including pain, range of motion, hand strength, inflexion/expansion activity and function (P<0.05); and the observation group had a significantly higher excellent rate of wrist joint function than the control group (94.6% vs. 76.5%, P<0.05). The two groups had insignificantly different incidences of postoperative complications (P>0.05). Conclusion: Locking compression plate fixation from volar approach in treatment of distal fracture of radius in the old has advantages of rapider fracture healing and better wrist joint function recovery. Volar locking compression plate fixation in the treatment of elderly patients with distal radius fracture has healing fast and wrist joint function recovery advantages.