OPEN REDUCTION AND INTERNAL-FIXATION OF DISPLACED INTRAARTICULAR FRACTURES OF THE DISTAL RADIUS - 31 PATIENTS FOLLOWED FOR 3-7 YEARS

We have used open reduction and internal fixation with a T-plate in 31 displaced, intraarticular fractures of the distal radius which were j udged irreducaible or in which closed reduction failed. The mean follo wup time was 4 (3-7) years. The dorsal angulation, the radial length, the articular step-off and the intraarticular gap between fragments we re substantially improved after surgery. 30 patients had excellent or good extraarticular alignment, and only 1 patient had a postoperative intraarticular step-off of 2 mm. The function was excellent or good in 26 patients at follow-up. Complications occurred in 6 patients: 1 com partment syndrome, 1 postoperative wound infection, 2 ruptures of the extensor pollicis longus tendon, and 2 patients had median nerve pares thesias.