OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, functionally and radiologically, the long term outcomes of the management of distal radius fracture treated by closed reduction and percutaneous pinning fixation. METHODS: From 84 patients submitted to percutaneous fixation of the distal radius fracture, we evaluated 34, with a medium follow-up of 85.7 months (from 18 to 168 months). Of the 34 patients, 23 were women, and the ages ranged from 28 to 88 years (median 65 years). We analyzed the range of movement, strength, pain and the results of the DASH questionnaire. Radiological evaluation was also carried out, to evaluate healing time and angles of the distal radius. RESULTS: The fractures healed in an average of 41 days. The mean values for wrist flexion, extension, radioulnar deviation, pronation and supination were within the functional parameters for ADM do punho. Most of the patients (76.5%) presented no pain during the examination, and 23 patients presented a DASH value of zero. There was one case of loss of reduction, which was re-operated two weeks after the initial surgery, and one patient developed a sympathetic dystrophy associated with a distal radioulnar joint disturbance. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous pinning fixation for distal radius fracture results in a long term follow-up with excellent range of movement, little or no pain, acceptable radiographic parameters, and low complication rate, and is an efficient and low cost method.
Radius Fractures; Kirschner Wires; Fracture Fixation
