TRANS-STYLOID AND INTRAFOCAL PINNING OF POUTEAU-COLLES FRACTURES: ADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF POSTOPERATIVE STABILITY COMPARED WITH SIMPLE INTRAFOCAL PINNING

Purpose: Wrist fractures are often seen in elderly subjects who cannot generally tolerate aggressive fixation of unstable fractures. Percutaneous intra-focal pinning (Kapandji) is usually employed. The purpose of this study was to compare the classical treatment of unstable extra-articular fractures of the lower quarter of the radius with posterior displacement with a modified pinning technique.Material and methods: This prospective radiological study concerned two groups of randomised patients aged 30 – 70 years who were hospitalised for surgical treatment of Pouteau-Colles fractures. In the first group, all patients were treated by the classical intra-focal technique using one or two dorsal pins and one lateral pin (group K). In the second group, all patients were treated by fixation with one or two infrafocal dorsal pins and a third pin inserted transfocally (group KM). Preoperative care, anaesthesia, and postoperative care (21 days immobilisation, pin removal at 45 days) were the same in both groups. ...