Experience in the Use of Surgical Access to the Distal Part of the Radius in Comminuted Intra-articular Fractures

Introduction. Fractures of the distal radius occupy a leading place in the general structure of limb injuries. In most cases, they are comminuted in nature and require open reduction and fixation. With traditional surgical approaches to the distal radius, there is a risk of injury to the tendons of the muscles of the anterior group of the forearm and the median nerve; in addition, the skin incision lines pass through the projection of the gap of the wrist joint, which leads to the formation of painful scars and difficulty moving in the early postoperative period.

The purpose of the work is to evaluate the results of using a new surgical approach to the distal radius for the treatment of comminuted intra-articular fractures.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the results of surgical treatment of 124 patients aged 19 to 78 years with a fracture of the distal radius for the period from 2015 to 2019 was carried out. A patient with a fracture of the distal epimetaphysis of the radius, Fernandez type III, underwent surgery through the proposed approach.

Results. Aſter transosseous osteosynthesis with a distraction external fixation device, on the sixth day, open reduction, bone graſting and plate osteosynthesis were performed through the proposed approach. Restoration of congruence of the articular surfaces of the wrist joint has been achieved. In the early postoperative period, movement in the joint is free, discomfort during the rehabilitation program is minimal. Aſter 12 months, movements in the joint are fully realized.

Discussion. The new access makes it possible to improve the conditions for operations on the distal part of the radius with its fractures, creates a sufficiently spacious and safe access to the radius, which allows you to preserve the muscular part of the square pronator and does not violate the anatomy of the synovial sheaths of the tendons of the muscles of the anterior forearm group, which is prevention of the development of deficiency of rotational movements of the forearm and contractures of the hand and fingers in early and late postoperative periods.

Conclusion. The developed new surgical approach to the distal radius provides optimalvisualization of the fracture andis low-traumatic, which has a positive effect on restoring full range of motionin the wrist jointin the early stages aſter surgery.

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