What advantages does volar plate fixation have over K-wire fixation for distal radius extension fractures in the elderly?

Purpose. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the outcome of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) followed immediately by physiotherapy and of percutaneous K-wire-fixation and casting for unstable distal radius fractures in elderly patients, considering the results both in general, for all such fractures, and selectively for A3 and C2fractures. Methods. Follow-up examinations were performed 26 (18-48) months after surgery in 43 patients (median age 67 (60-83) years) treated with K-wire fixation and 9 (5-17) months after surgery in 46 patients (median age 76 (60-90) years) treated with ORIF, and the outcome of each was recorded as Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Gartland-Werley and Castaing scores; the radiological loss of correction was also assessed. Statistical analysis was performed first without reference to the specific type of fracture for the K-wire- and the total ORIF-groups, and then selectively for A3 and C2-fractures only; in the second analysis the patients were divided into three groups: KD, ORIF with and ORIF without angular stability. Results. The Garland-Werley and Castaing scores do not indicate any significant difference between the procedures specified. According to the Garland-Werley score 37 patients (86%) treated by K-wire fixation and 39 (85%) treated by ORIF achieved "excellent" and "good" results; according to the Castaing score there were 33 (77%) "good" results after K-wire fixation and 34 (74%) good results after ORIF The radiological loss of correction (K-wire fixation/ORIF) as measured by the radial inclination (median 2/2.5 degrees), the palmar tilt (median 3/5 degrees) and the radial shortening (median 1/1 degrees mm) do not differ significantly. Suboptimal radiological results do not always correlate with results that are only "fair" or "poor" The non-fracture-specific DASH score suggests a higher degree of patient satisfaction after K-wire fixation (7 [0-87] points) than after ORIF (17 [0-82] points), which is not confirmed by fracture-specific evaluation. There is a significantly earlier return to the "activities of daily living" (4 as against 8 weeks) after ORIF. Conclusion. All the treatments compared are suitable for the treatment of A3 and C2 fractures. The important advantages of ORIF are the early functional physiotherapy without casting and without obligatory second surgery and the earlier return to "activities of daily living", which are all of decisive importance for older patients, who are the ones most frequently affected.